By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Equals the 10 title Tag of Tunisia.
THE PHARAOHS of Egypt are the African Champions equaling the 10 times Tunisia won the title and winning it a record four times back-to-back to nail their dominance on African Handball.
The Pharaohs at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday before a 3,000 yelling fans at the stands subdued their rivals, Tunisia 37-24 goals with half time scores at 17-10 in favor of Egypt.
The Refs Karim Gasmi and Raouf Gasmi (we could not ascertain whether they were blood relations) both from France were eagle eyed watching every movement with professional dexterity. Technical officials were Maurice Akpatsa from Togo and Jonas Allade from Benin Republic.
Ben Abdellah and Islem Jbeli got the 2 minutes suspension twice each escaping a red while Rayen Zarral got the 2 minutes suspension once. Two players, Frad Ridha and Ben Salem scored 4 goals.
Egypt’s Assistant Coach, Fuertes Pascual was yellow carded while his player Yasser Saifeldeengot the 2 minutes suspension twice escaping the red. Three players, Ahmed Hichem, Moammed Emad and Akram Saad got the 2 minutes suspension once.
Yahia Omar and Mohammed Emad scored 6 goals each; Yahim Elderaa and Ahmed Nafea scored 5 goals each while Ahmed Hitchem and Akran Saad scored 4 goals each.
The Stadium stood for the Champions, Egypt as seen in the cover photo.
Tunisia and Egypt had met 11 times from 8th June 1999 to even this tournament of 25th January 2026 but the only victory that was for Tunisia was on 27th January 2018.
Cape Verde on Saturday afternoon before 600 fans at the stands shocked Algerian Foxes to win the 27th African Handball Bronze Medals 29-23 goals in a pulsating match that saw half time scores at 16 goals each side.
Cape Verde came with determination to upset the North Africans especially Algeria that has won the title 7 times. So the team employed every tactics in the books to give Algeria a smashing handball court electrocution and they did it wonderfully.
Nigeria missed the 5th placing match on Friday maintaining a jinx of not going beyond 24 goals as Angola beat her 27-24 to miss a slot at the world cup in Germany next January.
Results have been pouring in from Kigali in Rwanda for ranking placements of the 27th edition of the tournament. We will start from the bottom where Kenya beat Uganda 38-29 goals to be the 15th team out of 16. Benin outscored Zambia 42-25 to be 13th in Africa; Congo hammered hosts Rwanda 30-20to place 11th.
Gabon narrowly defeated Cameroon 29-27 to place 9th; the match between Morocco and Guinea was very tough becoming the first to be decided by penalty shootouts after it ended 33-33 that Morocco finally won 38-37 to place 7th.
Egypt, the defending champions of the tournament that has won the title for a good 9 times after Tunisia that has won the title a record 10 times is on course to equal the Tunisian record of 10 wins as she thrashed Cape Verde 32-26 goals with half time scores at 16-11 in favor of Egypt in the first semifinal.
Three countries have significantly dominated Men’s Handball in Africa. Tunisia had won 25 medals (10 Gold, 8 Silver and 7 Bronze); Egypt has 21 medals (9 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze) and Algeria has 20 medals of 7 Gold, 8 Silver and 5 Bronze.
The tournament that started Wednesday 21st January is expected to draw her curtain on 31st January and this tournament will stand as qualifications for Africa’s representatives at the World Men’s Handball Championship in Germany in 2027. The next Men’s world Handball cup tournament will take place in Germany from 13th to 31st January 2027 with 32 teams on parade, five from each Confederation.
#HACON2026 #AHBF #EHF
#NSC #NHF #AHF
