Friday

Group B

DR Congo 45-15 Rwanda

Egypt           vs    Tunisa        5pm

Group A

Algeria        vs    Morocco   3pm

Mali             vs    Guinea      8:30pm

The U-18 men’s national handball team got off to a disappointing start in the ongoing 18th edition of Men’s Junior African Nations Championship in Bamako, Mali, suffering an effortless defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the opening game on Friday afternoon.

The U-18 team lost to neighbors DRC by 15-45 goals.

DR Congo took an early lead finishing the first half with 22 goals compared to seven goals of Rwanda and maintained the huge gap in the second half scoring 23 goals while Rwanda managed to find the back of the net only eight times.

DR Congo’s Lilingo Ikitusha Ange was the game’s best scorer netting seven times for his side while Yannick Karenzi scored five times for Rwanda.

Rwanda, the sole representative from the East African region are in Group B alongside defending champions Egypt and previous edition finalists Tunisia.

The two countries will lock horns today afternoon before Rwanda and Egypt face-off tomorrow at 3pm Rwanda time.

Meanwhile, in Group A, three-time winners Algeria face Morocco at 3pm before hosts Mali take on Guinea, at 8:30pm in today’s final fixture.

The continental event also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World Junior Handball Championship that is expected to take place in Algeria next year.