The rise of Beninese handball
Benin is emerging as a rising force in African handball thanks to the policies of the Beninese Handball Federation.
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The results of the 2022-2023 sporting season have underlined the rise of Beninese handball. Adjidja HBC, Benin's representative at the 44th African Handball Champions League, won a hat-trick of games in the first round before going out in the quarter-finals. Back from Brazzaville, the Militaires won the league title, beating Flowers CNSS in the final (28-27). In the women's competition, Flowers also retained their title after beating ASPAC (29-24).
“The level was very high in the professional league. There was no monopoly, there were at least four teams, and in every match each side told itself it was their game”, says Hervé Sossoukpe, coach of Flowers CNSS Women. The clubs in the league are improving steadily and the competition is becoming more competitive, adds Mathieu Dako, coach of Adjidja HBC. “What is happening between these three teams, Aspac, Flowers and Adidja, in both the men's and women's games, shows that the standard is now high and demanding. Buffles du Borgou can be counted in too. The gap is not too big. The teams that need to work to reach this level are perhaps Abo Sport and Assec.”
More competitions for athletes
The elective general assembly of September 2021, which put former player and businessman Sidikou Karimou at the head of the Beninese Handball Federation, marked the start of a revival for the sport. The new team is working to create plenty of competitions so that players can develop their game as well as possible. Besides the professional and amateur leagues, the Independence Cup has returned. According to Mathieu Dako, this policy is good for Beninese handball. “This year, we were given many more play-off competitions than in previous years. And even in the second phase, we had many more competitions than in the other phases. I believe it is the number of competitions that ultimately lifts the level of the teams. The competition between teams means that today everyone is fighting and training to get the better of the other. The final between Flowers and Adidja was not one for the faint-hearted”, the coach says.
“We are working to carefully refined plans with the support of all stakeholders”
In Benin, the executive committee is working to create an environment that allows talent to emerge and flourish. It is a huge undertaking, explains Serge Akakpo, first vice-president of the FBHB. “It involves training all stakeholders (sports officials, coaches, referees, technical delegates, players, editor's note). Then there is the organisation put in place and the structuring of actions. Every region is interested in the sport, which is enjoying unparalleled enthusiasm. Nothing is done by guesswork any more; instead we are working to carefully refined plans with the support of all stakeholders. The long-term aim is to build a thriving handball scene capable of performing at both national and international level”, he says.
In Beninese sport, it is now a fact that the handball federation attracts the most sponsors and partners. This fresh momentum benefits the federation as well as those at grassroots level. “The reforms are welcome and have brought a lot of resources to the development and practice of handball. Even in the amateur game, we see the same kind of organisation, with sponsors available to support the federation”, says Adjidja's coach, who also has ambitions with his team “to get past the quarter-final stage” in the next African campaign.
What about the national teams?
The final phase of the national cadet and junior championships is scheduled for 16 to 28 December 2023. Shortly before that, the federation entered the various age-group national teams in international competitions. Benin took part in the IHF Challenge Trophy Zone 3 in both the men's and women's events and in the Nantes International Handball Cup. “We now see age-group competitions regularly, and it is lively. There is never a reform without shortcomings. Bit by bit, they will find solutions. And if this continues, people will find opportunities so that we can build a good national team tomorrow”, hopes Éric Ahossou, a Flowers CNSS player. Indeed, the national team project remains a challenge for the federation. While the senior teams have been relaunched, the newly formed women's team will take part in the ACNOA Games from 4 to 10 December 2023 in Lomé.
The federation's next projects
Following its development programme, the federation has set itself goals for the coming years. “We will encourage the creation and affiliation of new clubs in order to increase the number of licensed players. We will also need to create new challenges. The other important project is to ensure our regular presence in African competitions, with both our clubs and our national teams. We will also work to develop beach handball. To achieve this, we must build new technical and financial partnerships”, the governing body's first vice-president explained.