Rabat – The African Handball Confederation (CAHB) has announced that Egypt will host the African Men’s Handball Championships in 2022 and 2024, replacing the previously scheduled hosts, Morocco and Algeria.
Due to political tensions between Morocco and Algeria, the confederation announced on March 29 in a press release that it has decided to ban the two North African countries from organizing the next two editions of the tournament.
Morocco was originally set to organize the African Championship in January 2022 in Laayoune and Dakhla – Morocco’s Western Sahara – which led to Algeria boycotting the cup.
The CAHB postponed the tournament on two occasions, from last January to June, and from June to July 2022.
“The extra-sporting divergences deeply marred the relations between the Royal Moroccan Handball Federation (FRMHB) and the Algerian Handball Federation (FAHB),” said the release.
In spite of the attempts to prevent certain participating teams from boycotting, the CAHB council regrets that divergences persist and are likely to jeopardize the progress of the two events, added the same source.
Following the ban of Morocco and Algeria, the CAHB called on the African national federations to submit their candidacy to host the 2022 and 2024 editions of the championships.
Egypt’s Minister of Sports and Youth Ashraf Sobhy set up a committee to prepare the competition in a meeting on Friday, April 8.
Sobhy also gave the green light for the planning of logistical procedures and preparation of the sports halls where the competition will be held.
In addition, Chairman of the Temporary Committee of the Egyptian Handball Federation Mohamed El-Amin discussed Egypt’s preparations for hosting the event.
The African Handball competition will not only decide the African champions, but will also serve as a qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games and the next World Handball Championship.
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