The senior women’s handball Leopards will begin an intensive training camp in Portugal on Monday, September 23, marking the start of diligent preparation for the 26th edition of the African Cup of Nations, which will take place from November 27 to December 7 in Kinshasa. This strategic decision, announced by Amos Mbayo, president of the Congolese handball federation (FEHAND), following the draw in Kinshasa, confirms the commitment and determination of the Congolese players to shine during this prestigious continental tournament.
The clear objective that the Congolese wild beasts have set for themselves is twofold. First, it is to qualify for the World Cup, an achievement that only a place in the semi-finals will allow them to achieve. Then, the ambition is to win the title and bring glory back to Congo. A difficult mission, but not impossible, for a team that has great aspirations and is ready to give its all on the field.
The group in which the Leopards were drawn leaves no doubt about the difficulty of the task that awaits them. The presence of Angola, the reigning African champion, alongside Uganda, Cameroon, Guinea and Tunisia promises intense and challenging matches. The Congolese wild animals will have to draw on their resources to compete with these tough opponents and assert their place among the best teams on the continent.
Semi-finalists in the previous edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2014, the Leopards women are determined to do as well, if not better, in this new competition. After a defeat against Tunisia in 2014, the Congolese players are keen to take their revenge and make history in their discipline by winning the coveted title.
This training camp in Portugal is therefore a crucial step in the preparation of the Leopards women. It is time for the team to come together, refine its strategy, strengthen its cohesion and prepare itself physically and mentally to face the challenges that await it. The Congolese supporters are holding their breath and eagerly awaiting the start of the competition, flying the flag for their favorite team and hoping to experience unforgettable moments.
In short, the senior Leopards women handball team are ready to fight and give their best to achieve their goals at the next Africa Cup of Nations. Portugal will be the stage for their preparation, but it is on Congolese soil that they hope to write a new page of glory for women’s handball in the country. Let the show begin, and let the Leopards roar with victory!