NAIROBI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The hunt for Africa beach volleyball tickets to the Tokyo Olympic Games will start on December 18 for the Sub-Zone Five in Kampala, Uganda.

A total of four men's teams will converge in Kampala in the first round of the zonal phase of the 2020 Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) Continental Cup, which acts as a qualifier for Tokyo Olympic Games. Kenya will be up against Sudan, Tanzania and hosts Uganda.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) vice president Charles Nyaberi said the country will make a good preparation for the team, which was fourth during the Africa beach volleyball competition.

"We have a strong pair of beach volleyball players and they will start their training in Mombasa with focus on polishing up their skills after the Africa Games and hopefully be able to overcome the first hurdle in Kampala to move to the second round," said head coach Patrick Owino.

The women's competition will be held in January 2020 in Dar es Salaam. Kenya will line up against Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. The top two teams will make it to the second round.

Kenya women's team, the silver medalist from Africa Beach Games, is dreaming of a debut show at the Olympic games.

Kenya will parade beach volleyball pair of Naomi Too and Gaudencia Makokha.

"They are the most consistent pair we have. They have proven their mantle winning silver at Africa Games. But this is a new challenge and we have to be at our best to fend off the opponents. After the first round, we will be more focused heading to the group stages," added Owino.

In total, the CAVB Africa Continental Cup will have the men's event, attracting 36 countries and regions to take part in the seven zones.

The 21 teams winning in the zones will be accompanied by the best three ranked teams that finished third to make 24 teams who will qualify for the second phase.

"We will then have to divide the winning teams into 4 pools of 6. The top 2 of each of the second phase teams will make it to the finals," said Emr Elwani, CAVB President.

In the women's event, 32 countries and regions will take part in the seven zones.

"We have 35 men and 31 women teams. The Sub-Zonal Phase will be held from Friday through to January 15 next year," Elwani said on Thursday.

The winner of the Men and Women Continental Cup will qualify directly to Tokyo Olympic Games. Enditem

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