A Polish journalist died during the 2023 EHF Champions League final between SC Magdeburg and Barlinek Industria Kielce on Sunday, the European Handball Federation (EHF) has said.

The journalist, Pawel Kotwica, fainted during the second half and the game was halted as he was medically treated by emergency services but sadly passed away, the EHF added.

Magdeburg coach Bennet Wiegert suggested to end the game with the score at 22-20 for the Poles, he told Bild, saying that “there are more important things in sport”.

“I said that we accept the result, and that Kielce are the winners of the Champions League,” Wiegert said before the game resumed and the German side went on to edge Kielce 30-29 after extra time to win their fourth title.

The seat in Kielce’s press stand which the journalist used to take when he reported on their league games has been reserved, the Polish team said.

“It will be yours forever, because we know that you will be with us at every next match,” they wrote on Twitter.

-Reuters

After a 25 years absence, the female National Handball Team return to the Nations Cup  beaming with confidence.

The 16 players,  coach and few officials  departed the Nnamdi  Azikiwe International ,Airport,  Abuja on Friday for Yaounde,  Cameroon  to take part in the Women Handball Nations Cup.

The team  played their last training match on Tuesday where they were out classed  46-28 by an Abuja-based Men’s National Division 1 Side, Arise Stars.

Coach Rafiu  Salami  in naming  his final squad  dropped two players, Alawaye Ramat and  Onyinye Ilo.

The final list of 16 players and HFN Officials had their 2nd Covid-19 tests on Wednesday.

The Confederation of African Handball during a Virtual meeting  confirmed that only Nigeria and  DR Congo complied with its requirement of undergoing  the first test 7 days before departure to Cameroun.

Nigeria’s opening Group B match is on  Sunday, June 6 against DR Congo.

Thereafter they will play Cameroun, before facing Kenya, a team Nigeria defeated at the last Africa Games.