18 men’s and women’s club teams from across Africa will today start their campaign to win the 40th edition of the CAHB African Championship of Champion Clubs – also known as the African Champions League – which is held in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire.

 

The draw for the championship took place at the African Handball Confederation (CAHB) at the end of September with both the men’s and women’s competitions featuring two groups each, one with five teams and one with four teams.

 

In each group, all teams will play each other once, before the top four teams in each group go through to the quarter-finals, then semi-finals and finals. The women’s final will take place on Saturday 27 October, while the men’s final gets underway on Sunday 28 October.

 

A full list of both match schedules can be found HERE.

 

The men’s competition teams are: Group A - Al Ahly (Egypt), Phoenix (Gabon), FAP (Cameroon), Red Star (Cote d’Ivoire) and USFA (Burkina Faso) and Group B – Zamalek (Egypt), Raja Agadir (Morocco), JSK (DR Congo), GSP (Algeria).

 

The teams in the women’s competition are: Group A – Petro (Angola), ABO (Congo), Bandaman (Cote d’Ivoire), HC Heritage (DR Congo), Dynamique (Cameroon) and Group B – Primeiro (Angola), FAP (Cameroon), Africa (Cote d’Ivoire), HC Vainqeur (DR Congo).

 

“40 symbolises more than just an ‘umpteenth’ edition,” said CAHB President Aremou Mansourou on the eve of the tournament. “It is handball which will show more and more evolved techniques and more sweat from the athletes – we are moving slowly but surely with the sport on our continent.”

 

“18 men’s and women’s clubs with athletes from different backgrounds will compete against each other eagerly and will all be thirsty to win.

 

“To all players – you all have the desire to lift the cup and feel unspeakable joy and we will look forward to this too, but I ask you only one thing: to keep in mind that you must always transmit around you, energy that revitalises the African handball and the desire to go higher and further always.

 

“Thank-you to the Ivorian authorities who vigorously answered yes to our appeal. Your support and support have been of great help to us. Thank you also to all the handball fans, to the federation presidents, to the coaches, to the referees, to all those who, from near and far, have had the heart to work for this event to be.”

 

Primeiro (women’s) and Zamalek (men’s) are the defending champions after winning the title in Tunisia last year.

Photo: CAHB