Rwanda suffered a heavy 46–25 defeat to Algeria in their second match of the 2026 Men’s Handball Africa Cup of Nations on Friday at BK Arena.

The hosts struggled defensively against a dominant Algerian side that surged to a commanding 23–10 lead by halftime.

Rwanda showed signs of improvement after the break as head coach Hafedh Zouabi adjusted his tactics, but the response came too late to trouble Algeria, who were seeking their first win after losing their tournament opener to Nigeria.

Speaking after the match, Zouabi acknowledged his team’s lack of international experience, citing the relatively low competitiveness of the domestic league as a key challenge.

"Today, it is difficult for us to play against professional teams, but I still have hope. Against Nigeria, we will fight,” Zouabi said.

In Group A’s other fixture, Nigeria began their campaign in emphatic fashion with a convincing 36–18 victory over Zambia.

Group B action saw Gabon claim their first win of the tournament with a dominant 33–16 triumph over Uganda, while Egypt delivered an impressive performance to cruise past Angola 41–28.

In Group C, Cameroon held their nerve to edge Kenya 28–24, as Tunisia recorded a comfortable 35–25 win against Guinea.

Group D also produced decisive results, with Cape Verde overpowering Morocco 33–28 and Congo Brazzaville securing a solid 26–22 victory over Benin.

The championship resumes on Saturday, January 24, with more group-stage fixtures scheduled.

Group A

Nigeria vs Rwanda – 7pm

Zambia vs Algeria – 3pm

Group B

Angola vs Gabon – 5pm

Uganda vs Egypt – 1pm

Group C

Kenya vs Tunisia – 5pm

Guinea vs Cameroon – 7pm

Group D

Morocco vs Congo Brazzaville – 3pm

Benin vs Cape Verde – 11am