PHOTOS: Rwanda U18 and U20 Handball Teams Crowned IHF Zone 5 Champions

Rwanda National Under-18 Handball Team and Rwanda National Under-20 Handball Team crowned champions of the IHF Trophy Zone 5 after defeating Burundi and Ethiopia respectively in the finals held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The U-18 side secured the title after a hard-fought 39-38 victory over Burundi in an intense final.

Rwanda led 20-18 at halftime after a closely contested opening 30 minutes.

The second half was played at a high tempo, with both neighboring countries battling fiercely for the trophy.

Despite Burundi’s efforts to stage a comeback, Rwanda maintained the two-goal advantage they had built before the break until the final whistle.

Rwanda’s U18 team completed the tournament unbeaten, underlining the country’s growing investment in youth handball development through grassroots competitions, school tournaments, and talent programs such as “Isonga.”

On their road to glory, Rwanda defeated Uganda 34-30 in the semifinal after leading 18-15 at halftime.

Earlier in the competition, they opened their campaign with a dominant 52-24 victory against Tanzania before edging Kenya 49-48 in their second group-stage match.

In the U-20 category, Rwanda defeated hosts Ethiopia 39-37 in front of a passionate home crowd to lift the trophy.

Although the final scoreline was close, Rwanda had established control early in the game and entered halftime with a comfortable 17-12 lead.

Like the U-18 team, Rwanda’s U-20 side won the tournament without losing a single match.

They reached the final after eliminating Kenya 41-33 in the semifinals.

During the group stage, Rwanda started strongly with a 46-19 win over Tanzania before beating Djibouti 42-18.

They later overcame Ethiopia 39-35 in another impressive display before meeting the same opponents again in the final.

Both Rwandan teams traveled to Ethiopia on Sunday, May 3, 2026, ahead of the week-long competition in Addis Ababa.

The U-20 national team was coached by Antoine Ntabanganyimana, assisted by Sylvestre Mudaharishema, while the U-18 was led by Anaclet Bagirishya assisted by Emmanuel Murwanashyaka known as Kabange.

Rwanda’s success at the IHF Trophy Zone 5 highlights the steady rise of handball in the country and reinforces its status as one of the emerging powers in youth handball across the East and Central African region.

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