Morocco confirms the organization of the African Handball Championship in Western Sahara... and a "message to Algeria"

The head of the Moroccan Handball Federation, Adly Hanafi, confirmed Friday that the African Nations Championship for the game will be held in Western Sahara, as scheduled, the day after the Confederation of African Handball announced that it was postponed to June after an objection from Algeria.

Hanafi said: "The tournament will be held in the cities of Guelmim and El-Ayoun, as scheduled, and there is no decision by the African Union to say the opposite."

The tournament was expected to be held in the cities of Guelmim in southern Morocco and El-Ayoun (Western Sahara) between January 13 and 23, but the Confederation of African Football decided to postpone it to the period between June 22 and July 2, according to a statement on its official website this week.

The federation also announced "the re-run of the draw for the tournament matches at a later date" that has not been determined, after "petitions from Zambia and Algeria to cancel the draw" that took place on December 8.

He added that he "accepted the petitioners of Zambia and Algeria.", without details of the reason for the protestors elected.

While the media had confirmed earlier that Algeria decided to boycott the tournament because of its residence in the city of El-Ayoun in the Western Sahara, which is disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is backed by the eastern neighbor of the Kingdom.

Adly considered that "the postponement of the draw is related to technical problems related to the African Union, and it has nothing to do with Morocco's organization of the tournament," noting that "Al-Ayoun previously hosted the African Cup Winners' Cup in 2016".

Hanafi sent a message to Algeria, saying: "If Algeria wants to participate in the tournament, it is welcome above our heads."

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