KAMPALA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan women's team is set to return to the Africa Senior Nations Handball Cup after 45 years.
The tournament, featuring 12 teams, will take place from November 27 to December 7 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Shakirah Bako, captain of the Uganda women's national handball team, told Xinhua on Monday before the team departed for DR Congo that they are confident of performing well despite their lack of experience on the big stage.
"We know that the competition will be very stiff because we don't have the experience like other teams, but we have trained hard and know what to expect," said Bako.
Head coach Jimmy Remmie Orotin emphasized that after the African Games in Ghana in 2023, the players are more motivated and eager to put on a good show. The Ugandan team qualified for the Africa Senior Nations Cup after finishing fifth at the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Patrick Ogwel, General Secretary of the National Council of Sports, Uganda's sports governing body, expressed his satisfaction that Uganda will finally have a team at the Africa Senior Nations Cup for the first time since 1979. "We are confident that the team has prepared well and will carry the national flag high," said Ogwel.
The championship also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 World Handball Championship.
Uganda is placed in Pool B along with DR Congo, Angola, Tunisia, Guinea, and Cameroon. Teams in Pool A include the Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Cape Verde, and Kenya. ■
