Rwanda’s national handball teams have delivered a historic double triumph after winning both the U18 and U20 categories at the Men’s IHF Trophy Africa Zone 5, securing qualification for the African Championship.
The U18 national team edged Burundi 39–38 in a thrilling final played in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 7, 2026, clinching the title after a tightly contested match that went down to the final moments.
One day later, the U20 team followed suit with another impressive performance, defeating hosts Ethiopia 39–37 in a closely fought final on May 8, 2026, to complete Rwanda’s double victory.
Both teams earned qualification for the African Handball Championship set to be held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in September 2026.
The Rwandan sides reached the finals after eliminating Uganda and Kenya in the semi-finals, continuing their dominant run throughout the tournament.
Remarkably, both squads finished the competition unbeaten, topping their respective group stages and maintaining perfect records all the way to the finals, underscoring Rwanda’s growing strength in regional handball.
