Late last year IWBF Africa held their Zone Championships in Algeria.
In the men’s division of the Africa Championships Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa played for the right to represent the zone in Rio. It was Algeria who defeated Morocco to win gold and win the coveted spot at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
In the bronze medal game South Africa defeated Egypt, whilst Nigeria finished 5th defeating Libya.
This was the first time that the Africa zone also hosted a women’s division. In the Women’s finals Algeria defeated South Africa for Gold, and earnt the right to go to Rio and be the first women’s team to represent the Africa zone at a Paralympic Games. Whilst Nigeria defeated Morocco for the bronze
IWBF Secretary General, Maureen Orchard, was in Algiers and was very pleased to have a women’s division at the tournament, said “It has been a while coming but it was exciting to see women’s teams from Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa competing.
“I want to thank their NOWBs for supporting the teams. This marks the first time that IWBF will have women’s teams representing all four of our Zones at the Paralympic Games.”
Congratulations to Algeria who were successful in having both their men and women win gold in Algiers, qualifying them for RIO.