On March 4, 2025, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports and Culture, Nelly Mukazayire, warmly welcomed Dr. Adolphe Aremou Mansourou, the President of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB), and his delegation, who are in Rwanda for a working visit.
The visit, which began on March 1, is part of ongoing discussions about the future of handball in Africa and preparations for the upcoming Africa Handball Cup of Nations.
The main focus of their meeting was on the exciting plans to host the 2026 Africa Handball Cup of Nations for senior teams, which will take place in Rwanda from January 16 to 31, 2026. Minister Mukazayire and Dr. Mansourou discussed how Rwanda is preparing to make the tournament a success, as well as ways to grow handball across the continent, especially in Rwanda.
After their discussions, Dr. Mansourou and his team attended a friendly match between Rwanda’s U-20 national handball team and APR HC. The match ended with a thrilling victory for the national team, 31-30. The game was part of Rwanda’s preparation for the upcoming IHF Trophy/Intercontinental Phase tournament, which will be held in Kosovo from March 12 to 16, 2025.
Rwanda has already proven itself as a strong host for international handball events, having successfully organized the Africa Handball Cup of Nations for U-20 and U-18 teams in 2022. With that success, the country has been selected to host the prestigious senior tournament in 2026.
During his visit, Dr. Mansourou had the chance to tour some of the key sports facilities that will host the tournament, including the BK Arena and Petit Stade. These venues are expected to provide a great setting for the competition.
The discussions also included how both Rwanda and the wider African continent can continue to improve and develop handball, ensuring the sport thrives in the years to come. With these ongoing efforts, the 2026 Africa Handball Cup of Nations promises to be an exciting and important event for African sports.
