The International Handball Federation (IHF), in cooperation with the Niger Handball Federation (FENIHAND) and the African Handball Confederation (CAHB), organised a Referee and Delegate Course in Niamey, Niger, from 8 to 16 August, continuing its efforts to strengthen officiating standards and support the development of referees and delegates across Africa.

A total of 71 participants attended the course, including 49 referees and 22 delegates, representing all regions of Niger. The programme was delivered by IHF PRC Member and IHF PRC Lecturer Mamoudou Diabaté, who also serves as Chairman of the CAHB Playing Rules and Referees Commission. 

A former IHF referee between the 2006/07 and 2017/18 seasons alongside Yalatima Coulibaly, Diabaté officiated at several IHF Men's and Women's World Championships and the Olympic Games in London 2012 and Rio 2016 before moving into referee education. Throughout the course, he guided participants through both classroom instruction and practical on-court sessions aimed at strengthening their theoretical knowledge and match-management skills.

The course was divided into two complementary phases. During the opening three days, participants attended theoretical sessions covering the Rules of the Game and key aspects of refereeing and delegation before completing written and practical assessments. The remaining three days were dedicated to practical work, where referees were evaluated during matches, allowing participants to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom while receiving direct feedback on their positioning, decision-making and overall performance. The practical sessions also served to identify promising officials who could be considered for further development.

Diabaté highlighted the diversity of the group as one of the course's strengths. The participants ranged from experienced referees already officiating senior league matches to young officials attending their first formal education programme. Coming from every region of Niger, some travelled more than 1,300 kilometres to take part in the course, reflecting the growing commitment to developing refereeing standards throughout the country.

Following the practical assessments, in debriefing with the IHF, Diabaté emphasised that the course provided an excellent opportunity to identify several young referee pairs with strong potential for future development. While the evaluations highlighted areas requiring further improvement, particularly in the consistent application of the Rules of the Game and on-court positioning, he underlined the participants' enthusiasm, willingness to learn and commitment throughout the programme. He also stressed the importance of continued mentoring, regular match appointments and further educational opportunities to support the long-term progression of the most promising officials.

At the conclusion of the course, the participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and skills, while the Niger Handball Federation thanked the IHF for its continued support of referee and delegate education. The federation also expressed its hope that similar courses will continue to be organised in the future, helping build an even stronger foundation for officiating in Niger and across the African continent.