NAIROBI, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will face six-time African champions Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Guinea in the 2020 African Men's Handball Championship, which will be played in Jan. 16 to 26 in Hammamet and Rades in Tunisia.
Kenya coach Peter Mwathi believes should Kenya navigate through the group stage, they will have a higher chance to secure the lone ticket reserved for the winner for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which run from July 24 to Aug. 9 in Japan.
"The players have shown their hunger to reclaim their lost glory and we can only help to inspire them to go for the title," said Mwathi.
African Handball Confederation (CAHB) said on Saturday that a total of 16 teams are competing in the continental qualifiers.
With Kenya and Egypt leading Group A alongside DRC and Guinea, there are also Other teams making the tournament, which include Angola, Nigeria, Libya and Gabon in Pool B, hosts Tunisia teaming up with Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Cape Verde in Pool C, and Pool D has Morocco, Algeria, Congo and Zambia.
Only one slot is reserved for the entire continent, according to Mansourou Aremou, President of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB).
"Only the winner will earn a direct ticket. The second and third-placed teams will go to Germany, France and Norway for the global Olympic qualification tournament," CAHB said in a statement.
Already host Japan, Denmark, two continental champions - Argentina for Pan American Games and Asian champion Bahrain - have already sealed their spots in the 24 teams for the Tokyo Olympics.
