Women's IHF Trophy Zone 2 Africa to take place in Bamako

Nine youth and eight junior national teams are ready to participate in the Women's IHF Trophy Zone 2 Africa, which will be held in Bamako, Mali, from 19 to 23 April 2023.

Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Morocco, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone will play at the youth (U17) tournament. The same nations except Gambia will take part in the junior (U19) competition.

The matches will be held at two venues: Salle Abdallah M Haidara and Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga. The winners of both tournaments will book tickets to the continental phase of the Women's IHF Trophy.

At the U17 event, nine teams are divided into three groups. Cape Verde, Mauritania and Sierra Leone play in Group A, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Mali in Group B and Senegal, Gambia and Morocco in Group C.

Following the group phase, which will last from 19 to 21 April, the three group winners plus the best second-placed team will play in the semi-finals on 22 April. On the same day, and the two remaining second-placed teams will fight for the fifth position, and two best third-placed sides will play for the seventh place.

The format of the U19 competition is different as eight teams are divided into two groups of four. Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco and Sierra Leone compete in Group A, while Cape Verde, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Guinea have been drawn into Group B.

The group stage will also last from 19 and 21 April, and the two best teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, which will be held on 22 April. On the same day, the teams ranked third in their groups will play for the fifth overall position, and the teams ranked fourth will fight for the seventh place.

At both youth and junior tournaments, the final and the third-place match will be held on Sunday 23 April at Palais des Sports Salamatou Maiga.