Rwanda’s U-18 men’s national handball yesterday jetted off to Malian capital of Bamako to participate in the 18th edition of Men’s Junior African Nations Championship set for September 2-10.

The Rwandan junior team have been drawn in the group of death that includes defending champions Egypt, as well as third-placed Tunisia and DR Congo, who are ranked eight on the continent.

Rwanda is ranked 20th.

The countries constitute Group B, while Group A has Algeria, Morocco, Guinea and Mali.

Rwanda headed to Mali straight from Yaoundé, Cameroon where they competed in the inaugural Africa Zone 4, 5 and 6 Championships that ended on Monday.

They lost the final game to hosts Cameroon by 17-37 goals.  

The five-day tournament, which started on July 25, was organised by African Handball Confederation.

The team was using the event as a warm-up ahead of their debut in the African Nations Championships that will attract eight nations and will also serve as a qualifying tournament for the World Junior Handball Championship.

Since the tournament’s first edition in 1980, Egypt have won a record 16 medals (11 gold, three silver and two bronze) followed by Tunisia with 15 (three gold, seven silver and five bronze) while Algeria are third with 10 (two gold, four silver and four bronze).

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