Handball in the Republic of the Congo is looking to rebuild after a period of limited activity. A new initiative has brought together 26 men’s and women’s teams, with qualification tournaments now underway ahead of a major national event in December.
Handball in the Republic of the Congo is taking steps towards a revival. The initiative is led by Dynamique pour le réveil du handball congolais, which has launched qualification tournaments following six months of preparation.
According to The Congo Mail and the Congolese News Agency (ACI), 12 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams are taking part in the competition. Matches are being organised across several parts of the country, including the capital Brazzaville and the coastal city of Pointe-Noire, as well as other departments.
The opening round has already produced some remarkable scorelines. BMC defeated Avenir du Rail 47–6 in the men’s competition, while Grain de Sel recorded a 53–18 victory against CFPN in the women’s event. However, the initiative is about more than results. Its stated ambition is to restore regular handball activity and create renewed interest in a sport that has struggled to maintain continuity in the country.
The qualification tournaments will lead to a larger national event in Brazzaville in December, bringing together the leading teams from the initiative.