This year's African Handball Cup of Nations in Cairo will serve as a Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier ©African Handball Cup of Nations

Cairo and the Russian city of Astrakhan will both host qualifying events for the handball competitions at Rio 2016, it has been confirmed. 

The biennial men’s African Handball Cup of Nations is scheduled to be held in Egypt’s capital from January 21 to 30, and will this year serve as an Olympic qualifier.

Astrakhan, meanwhile, will stage a women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament at the 6,000-capacity Zvyozdnyi sports complex from March 18 to 20.

The 22nd edition of the African Handball Cup of Nations will not only be the qualifier for the Olympic Games, but also for the 2017 World Men’s Handball Championship which is due to take place in France from January 11 to 29.

It will feature 12 teams split into two groups with the top four from each advancing to the quarter-finals.

Hosts Egypt are joined by Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Morocco and Nigeria in Group A, while Tunisia, Africa’s sole representatives in the men’s competition at London 2012, headline Group B which also features Angola, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Libya. 

The triumphant nation will book their place at Rio 2016, becoming the fifth entrant after hosts Brazil, world champions France, Pan American Games silver medallists Argentina and Asian Qualification Tournament winners Qatar.

Hosts Russia will be among the nations competing at the women's handball Olympic Qualification Tournament in Astrakhan
Hosts Russia will be among the nations competing at the women's handball Olympic Qualification Tournament in Astrakhan ©Getty Images

Astrakhan fended off competition from fellow Russian cities Moscow, St Petersburg and Krasnodar to win the hosting rights to what is one of three women’s Olympic Qualification Tournaments due to take place simultaneously.

Russia will go up against Mexico, Poland and Sweden in a round-robin format, with the top two teams qualifying for Rio 2016.

There will also be tournaments held in Metz, France and Aalborg in Denmark at the same time, under the same format.

France will be competing alongside Japan, The Netherlands and Tunisia in Metz, while Denmark will face Montenegro, Romania and Uruguay in Aalborg.

The three tournaments will determine the final six qualifiers for the 12-strong women’s competition at Rio 2016.

Already qualified are hosts Brazil, European Championship runners-up Spain, African Qualification Tournament winners Angola, Pan American Games silver medallists Argentina, Asian Qualification Tournament winners South Korea and world champions Norway.