COVID-19 knocks out Handball AFCON U20

The Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations slated for Rabat – Morocco from 9th to 14th March has been postponed, Handball Association of Zambia has revealed.

According to a statement availed by HAZ secretary general Josab Changa on Tuesday morning, the decision to postpone the tournament follows the prevalence of COVID-19 cases in the host country.

The decision was arrived at after a consultative meeting between Confederation of African Handball (CAHB) and the Moroccan Ministry of Health.

Zambia Under-20, along with 11 other countries, were scheduled to take part in the week long tournament which was also billed as a world cup qualifying event with six of the 12 slots up for grabs.

However, HAZ feels the move is a “blessing in disguise”, citing that they were facing challenges in raising funds to take the team for the tournament.

“The postponement is a blessing in disguise as The Handball Association of Zambia was struggling to raise K1. 9million to send the Under 20 Boys Handball National Team to Rabat-Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations Handball Championship.”

The tournament was expected to take place this year for the first time since 2017 but with Coronavirus now having affected the current schedule, it remains unclear when the new dates might be.