Setback for defending champions
France star Remili misses the European Handball Championships
January 14, 2026 – 5:49 p.mReading time: 1 min.
At the last European Championship, Nedim Remili was voted player of the tournament. Shortly before the start of this year’s finals it is clear: France’s key player will be missing.
Shortly before the start of the European Championship, France has to cope with a painful loss: backcourt player Nedim Remili will be missing from the defending champions due to a calf injury.
As the French association announced on Tuesday, investigations have revealed “an acute injury that rules out his participation in the European Championships.” Aymeric Zaepfel from Pays d’Aix UC is in the squad to replace the 30-year-old, who is under contract with Telekom Veszprém.
At the European Championships in Germany two years ago, Remili was voted the tournament’s most valuable player. France will face the Czech Republic at the start on Thursday (6 p.m. / Dyn) in Oslo. Other opponents in Group C are Ukraine and co-hosts Norway. The French team also includes Dika Mem, who will move to Füchse Berlin in the summer – France could face the selection of national coach Alfreð Gíslason in the main round.