Lomé Hosts IHF Trophy International Handball Tournament
Lomé, the capital of Togo, will become the centre of West African handball next week as the city prepares to host the IHF Trophy International Tournament from July 29 to August 3.
The competition will feature junior men’s and women’s national teams from across Zone 3 of Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, and the host nation Togo. This event marks a significant opportunity for emerging handball talent in the region to compete on an international stage.
Organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF) in partnership with the African Handball Confederation (CAHB), the tournament will not only showcase exciting matches but will also serve as a platform for referee and coach training to further develop the sport in West Africa.
The opening day on July 29 will begin with preliminary matches for the women’s teams: Burkina Faso versus Liberia and Benin versus Ghana, held simultaneously at the multi-sport stadium and ESSAL ground respectively. Following these, the official opening ceremony will take place at the multi-sport stadium, followed by five matches, with the tournament kickoff featuring the men’s teams of Togo and Niger.
The men’s teams are divided into two groups:
Group A: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana
Group B: Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Togo
The women’s groups are as follows:
Group A: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia
Group B: Niger, Nigeria, Togo
With the region’s best junior teams competing, the tournament promises high-level competition and an exciting showcase for the sport’s future stars. The inclusion of coaching and referee training highlights the commitment to growing handball’s infrastructure and expertise across West Africa.
If you want, I can add details on the history of the IHF Trophy or profiles of standout teams and players.
