The IHF Africa Zone 3 U-19 and U-17 ladies handball championship kicked off in Accra on Tuesday April 11 with Ghana and Nigeria recording heavy victories in their opening games.
Six other nations joined hosts Ghana for the tournament at the Accra Sports Stadium, which will run till 15th April, 2023.
Cote D’Ivoire, Liberia, Togo, Benin, Nigeria Niger and Ghana are the competing countries.
The tournament is aimed at developing Handball players and officials at the juvenile stage.
Following an elaborate opening ceremony, Cote D’Ivoire’s U-19 ladies beat Benin’s U-19 women 38-20 before Ghana’s U-17 humbled their Beninoise counterparts 36-22.
Nigeria’s U-19 also beat Liberia 61-16 in a one-sided match, before the Liberians then succumbed to Ghana 72-5 in their second match.
Preceding the tournament, the President of the Confederation of African Handball, Dr. Adolphe Mansourou Aremou arrived in the country on a four-day working visit. As part of his visit, he, in company of the President of the Handball Association of Ghana (HAG) and other officials called on the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif and the Chairman of the 2023 African Games Local Organising Committee (LOC), Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare.
He also took the opportunity to visit the on-going Borteyman Sports Complex site to see the facility which is expected to host the African Games next year.
Speaking after the visit, Dr Aremou expressed satisfaction at the progress of the facility and said he was looking forward to a successful African Games organisation in Accra.
“I’m very glad with what I’ve seen and believe it will serve the purpose for which it is been built. ” said Dr Aremou.
He also paid a courtesy call on the King and overlord of the Ga state, Boni Abiasuma Dr. Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II at his residence. In attendance was the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adote Otintor II, the Abola Mantse, Nii Ahene Nunoo III, the Nai Wolomo, Nuumo Akwaa Mensah, the Ga Mantse Afiyie and a host of others. Accompanying Dr. Aremou was the President HAG, Nii Lante Bannerman, the Secretary General, Charles Obeng Amofa and other executives as well as Mrs. Hornelle Gbetoho, the Communications and marketing Director of CAHB.