NAIROBI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Just 16 men's and women's volleyball teams will be cleared to compete in next year's African qualifying round for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) says the highest 16 teams in the rankings will be considered for the qualifiers, in which the two best sides for both men's and women's competitions will secure their ticket to Tokyo.
"The world volleyball governing body (FIVB) has released the qualification pathway for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and we hope national federations will prepare teams for the competition," CAVB official Tarek Al-Adwar said on Tuesday.
Since volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964, only Algeria, Cameroon and Kenya have represented Africa.
However, a new representative may emerge in 2020, as the CAVB seeks to have the best 16 teams on the continent competing for the two slots up for grabs.
Al-Adwar said the first step for the qualification would be at the men's and women's volleyball international qualification tournaments, involving the 24 highest ranked teams.
The teams will be split into six events of four teams each. The tournaments will be held from August 2 to 11 in various cities.
The second round of qualification will be at the continental tournaments for both genders, to be held in each of the five confederations in January 2020.
"For the CAVB, we expect to confirm the participating teams in men's and women's competitions in March. If there will be more than 16 teams in either gender, then zonal qualifiers will be held. If 16 or fewer teams are registered, only the continental final will be held," said Al-Adwar.
The host of the men's and women's continental championships will be decided in June during the CAVB Congress.
Since 1964, only five countries have taken Olympic gold in women's volleyball. They are reigning champions Brazil, Cuba, China, Japan, and the former Soviet Union.
In the men's tournament, Brazil, the United States, and the former Soviet Union have all won Olympic gold at least once, with Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, Russia and the former Yugoslavia the event's one-time winners.
