2026 BEACH HANDBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Benin’s Amazons withdraw after Croatian visa refusal
A major blow and immense disappointment for Beninese handball. In an official statement released on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Beninese Handball Federation (FBHB) announced the forced withdrawal of the Amazons from the Beach Handball World Championships, which will take place from June 23 to 27 in Zagreb, Croatia.
The reason for this absence is purely administrative: the Croatian authorities refused to issue visas to the Beninese delegation. Despite the FBHB’s efforts, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Beninese Embassy in Morocco were all mobilized to resolve the situation, but Croatia maintained its refusal.
The Federation was keen to clarify that there was neither delay nor negligence in the preparation of the application. All required procedures were meticulously followed and completed on time.
The stakes were historic. For the very first time in its history, Benin had qualified for the Beach Handball World Cup finals, with the privilege of representing the entire African continent as its sole representative.
Deeply disappointed by this outcome, the Benin Handball Federation (FBHB) reaffirmed its unwavering support for the players and coaching staff. While the world championship dream has come to an abrupt end just before departure, the Federation promises not to give up and to continue developing beach handball in Benin in order to propel the national teams back onto the international stage.
✍️ By Joseph HOUNKPATIN
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