Rwanda ejected from African tourney for fielding ineligible players
Kenya women's volleyball team players celebrate a point against Tunisia during their African Nations Championships match on September 15, 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.
What you need to know:
- However, a proposal addressed to CAVB president Bouchra Hajij on Saturday evening from the World governing body FIVB read in part:
- "The suspension of the players and the Rwanda Volleyball Federation must be maintained. All matches played by the Rwandan national team be declared a forfeit according to the FIVB regulations," the global body said.
Hosts Rwanda have been suspended from the ongoing African Nations Championships for fielding ineligible players.
The Rwandese national women's volleyball team was scheduled to play Kenya in one of the semifinals Saturday.
On Thursday, Nigeria, who were drawn in pool "A"alongside Senegal, Morocco and the hosts, filed a formal complaint to the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) over the eligibility status of four Rwandese players.
The four are right-attacker Aline Siqueira, centre Apolinario Caroline Taina, setter Mariana Da Silva and left-attacker Moreira Bianca Gomes.
The development saw the action , which was supposed to come to end Sunday with top two nations proceeding to the next year's World championship to be held in Netherlands and Poland, shelved.
After the complaint, CAVB had proposed that the suspension against the players should be maintained, but asked whether it was possible for the Rwandan national team to continue playing.
However, a proposal addressed to CAVB president Bouchra Hajij on Saturday evening from the World governing body FIVB read in part:
"The suspension of the players and the Rwanda Volleyball Federation must be maintained. All matches played by the Rwandan national team be declared a forfeit according to the FIVB regulations," the global body said.
FIVB emphasised that it cannot take decision that would contravene its regulations.
In a rejoinder, Rwanda Volleyball Federation (RVF) stated that it was willing to continue with the organisation of the event, but required FIVB to immediately lift the provisional suspension of the players and national team.
CAVB, RVF and Rwanda Ministry of Sports officials were Saturday evening still held in the meeting to decide the way forward.
FIVB regulations state that a player's federation of origin is the first federation to issue a national license or otherwise register the player within it's Federation.
Rwanda had won against Morocco and Nigeria and were scheduled to play Senegal on Friday.
