Angolan duo qualify for the Olympics

(BEIJING, July 18) -- The Angolan duo of Emanuel Fernandes and Morais Abreu have qualified for the men's beach volleyball competition at Beijing 2008 after earning 60 points at the beach volleyball open in Marseille. The Angolan duo beat teams from the UAE and Andorra on July 16.

The 60 points take the pair past the South African duo of Casey Augoustides and Patrik Flisberg, thus making the Angolans the highest-ranked African team according to the official rankings. According to Olympic regulations, at least one team from each continent must qualify for the Olympic beach volleyball competition.