Eight teams to compete in volleyball Africa Championships in Nairobi

Only eight teams will compete in the African Nations Championships, which will be held in Nairobi starting Friday to June 20.

Hosts Kenya on Wednesday recalled their three foreign-based players: Praxcides Agala, Jane Wacu both of Club Charmalier in France and Finland based Mercy Moim.

Kenya was selected to host the tournament, which has attracted teams from Senegal, Algeria, Botswana, Mauritius, Cameroon, Tunisia and Morocco.

Head coach David Lung' aho said they are all prepared for the task ahead as the country seeks to return to the tournament, which they last featured in 2011. The top two teams in the competition will qualify for the volleyball World Cup in Japan in September.

"We know what lies ahead of us, but we are well prepared and ready to take game by game. It is time to show the world why we are the African Queens," Agala said

Along the Africa Nations Championships, Kenya team will also compete in the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo (September), 2016 Olympic qualifiers (October), World Grand Prix, as well as beach volleyball competitions.

The World Cup will have only 12 teams. Hosts Japan will be joined by the world champions and two teams from each of the five continental confederations for both the women's event, which will take place from Aug. 22 to Sept. 6, and the men's competition, which runs from Sept. 8-23.

China and South Korea will join the women' s competition from Asia. Europe will be represented by Russia and Serbia.

Two more teams will come from North, Central America & Caribbean Confederation while an additional two will come from South America.

Brazil will not participate in either competition as they are already qualified for next year's Games in Rio as the competition hosts. Top four teams at the World Cup will qualify for the Rio Olympics games. Endi