🤝 New Egypt-France Handball Partnership
Egyptian Handball Federation president Khaled Fathi has signed an expanded cooperation agreement with the French Handball Federation, headed by Philippe Bana, as part of a memorandum of understanding aimed at exchanging expertise and developing handball in both countries.
The agreement establishes joint programs extending through 2028, covering national teams, coaching, refereeing, elite performance, infrastructure and other areas linked to the development of the sport.
🏆 National Teams and High-Performance Development
The memorandum places national teams and high-performance sport among the main areas of cooperation, with both sides set to exchange technical information and expertise.
The agreement also includes training camps, meetings and joint gatherings, along with exchanges of invitations between Egyptian and French national teams. Joint activities for men, women, youth and junior teams can also be organized through 2028.
This aspect of the partnership can provide players and coaches with additional international exposure while allowing the two federations to exchange different approaches to player development.
🧠 Coaching and Refereeing Cooperation
The cooperation extends beyond national teams to coaching and technical development through exchanges between coaches, technical directors, referees and officials.
The two sides will also explore lectures and workshops related to coaching and education while making use of French expertise in modern training methods and performance development.
The memorandum also includes discussions on qualification programs and the issuing of certificates and diplomas linked to handball coaching courses in accordance with applicable regulations.
🏖️ Beach Handball and Wheelchair Handball
The partnership also covers other forms of the sport, including beach handball and wheelchair handball, as well as related disciplines and branches.
This wider scope indicates that the agreement is intended to go beyond traditional national-team programs and include different categories and formats of handball.
🏟️ French Expertise in Sports Infrastructure
One of the major components of the memorandum is the study of French experience in sports infrastructure and facilities, alongside discussions concerning documents and plans related to the “Maison du Handball” or “Handball House” project.
The two sides will explore the possibility of benefiting from French expertise in designing, operating and managing specialized facilities dedicated to handball.
This aspect reflects a broader approach to development that includes not only players and technical staffs but also training centers, facilities, educational programs and administration.
🌍 Joint Tournaments and Development Programs
The agreement also opens the door to organizing joint tournaments and events between Egypt and France, particularly for youth and junior teams.
The cooperation may also include opportunities for players from both countries to participate in development programs and exchange initiatives, giving young athletes additional opportunities to gain international experience.
📋 Exchange of Rules and Administrative Expertise
The memorandum also covers the exchange of knowledge regarding regulations and working systems, as well as learning from the experience of the French league and French clubs.
This could give the Egyptian side access to different approaches to managing and developing handball competitions and clubs while complementing the technical side of the cooperation.
🔥 Partnership Through 2028
The memorandum reflects an effort to establish long-term cooperation between Egypt and France rather than limiting the relationship to individual camps or tournaments.
The joint programs are scheduled to undergo regular evaluation, with joint assessments to be prepared at the end of each period in order to improve the cooperation and determine the next steps.
⭐ A New Step in Egyptian Handball Development
The partnership comes as Egyptian handball continues to produce strong results across various national-team age groups, creating opportunities to build on the existing talent base through structured international cooperation.
The partnership with the French federation provides a framework for exchanging expertise in coaching, education, refereeing, elite performance, infrastructure and administration, while supporting the continued development of new generations of Egyptian handball players.
