The kickoff of the 45th edition of African Championship of Handball Champion Clubs (men and ladies), organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VIwas given on Thursday evening at Laayoune. The ceremony held on this occasion, at the sports hall, opened to the rhythm of the national anthem, in the presence of the wali of the Laâyoune region Sakia-El Hamra, governor of the province of Laâyoune, Abdeslam Bekratefrom the president of the CAHB, Mansourou Aremoufrom the president of the FRMHB, Hanafi Adliand the president of the board of directors of the National Society for the Development and Management of Stadiums (SONARGES) reporting to the Sports Department, Youssef Belkasmi.
On this occasion, a video sequence was projected on the various infrastructures abounding in the city of Laâyoune, in particular the sports areas, thus allowing the largest metropolis in the Moroccan Sahara to host events of international scope in the different sporting disciplines. .
In a statement to MAP, the president of the CAHB, Mansourou Arèmou, praised the warm welcome given to all the sports delegations, as well as the involvement of the various stakeholders in organizing this event in Laâyoune. For his part, the president of the FRMHB, Hanafi Adli, indicated that this competition saw the participation of the strongest teams on the African scale, in the presence of the heads and representatives of the respective federations. Likewise, Mr. Adli indicated that the African Handball Confederation had closely inspected the various sports infrastructures available and noted their adaptation to host such continental or international competitions.
In the men’s category, 16 teams divided into four groups compete in the competition, namely the Moroccan clubs Raja Agadir, Mountada Derb Sultan and Widad Es-Semara. Egyptian handball is represented by Al Ahly and Zamalek, as well as Étoile and CFJSO from Congo, Don Bosco from Ivory Coast and ASFA from Senegal. These are also the Beninese clubs Flowers CNSS and Adjidja HBC and the Cameroonian FAP and Friendship HB, in addition to Mekelle 70 Enderta, Krikos and Mechal Handball Sport Club from Ethiopia.
As for the women’s tournament of this competition, it sees the participation of 11 teams divided into three groups, representing the AS Nouaceur club (Morocco), the Primeiro and Petro clubs (Angola), FAP André Nziko (Cameroon), Abidjan HBC (Ivory Coast), Al Ahly (Egypt), AS Otoho (Congo), Flowers CNSS (Benin) and Peacocks (Nigeria), as well as the Sahel Women’s Sports Association (Tunisia).
The opening of this high African handball mass was also marked by the presence of the President of the Regional Council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, elected officials and consuls general of African countries accredited in Laâyoune, as well as the presidents of the handball federations. participants and sports personalities. Remember that the city of Laâyoune hosted, in May 2016, the 32nd edition of the African Championship of handball cup winning clubs (men and women), as well as the African Super Cup in this sporting discipline.
