Ghana to feature in 2006 volleyball qualifiers

NAIROBI: Twenty teams will feature in the 2006 World Champions Africa Zone volleyball qualifiers slated for December 2004 and January 2005.

The International Volleyball Federation, the FIVB, picked the teams during a draw conducted in Rome in the presence of continental federations chiefs, including the African Volleyball Confederation, the CAVB, President Dr Amr Elwani.

Three women's teams and two men's sides in the final will represent Africa for the first time in history instead of one slot in each category. In the men's qualifier bringing together 15 un-seeded teams Ghana, Sudan, Uganda, and Eritrea are in Pool A, while South Africa, Botswana and Mauritius are in Pool B. The winners of the first round join the seeded Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria in Pool C and Pool D with Egypt, Cameroon and DR Congo in the qualifier proper. Winners of Pools C and D events will qualify directly to the 2006 World Championships in Japan.

Meanwhile, the women's qualifier brings together 13 teams drawn into three pools. Egypt, Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa are in pool A, while Kenya, Algeria, Congo -Brazzaville and DR Congo are in pool B. Cameroon, Tunisia, Mauritius and Uganda belong to group C. Only winners of each group will qualify for the World Championship.