Egypt’s men’s handball team won their 10th African championship following a commanding 37-24 victory over arch-rivals Tunisia in the final held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The emphatic win allowed Egypt to draw level with Tunisia as the joint most successful nation in the history of the competition.
It also marked a historic milestone as the Pharaohs became only the second team in history to win the African championship four times in a row, one behind Algeria.
Tunisia, however, still hold the overall medal count record with 26, four more than Egypt and six more than Algeria which finished fourth in the tournament.
Egypt’s latest success further underlined their supremacy, extending an extraordinary unbeaten African run that has now stretched uninterrupted since 2018.
The 2026 championship, staged from 21 to 31 January, brought together Africa’s elite handball nations. Egypt delivered a flawless campaign, becoming the only team to win all of their matches, a perfect record. Egypt topped their preliminary group with consecutive victories over Gabon, Angola and Uganda, before continuing their dominant performances in the main round with a crucial win over Algeria and a comprehensive triumph against Nigeria.
The semi-finals presented a stern test, as Egypt faced Cape Verde in a rematch of the 2022 final. Despite a blistering start that saw Egypt race to a 14-5 lead after just 22 minutes, Cape Verde mounted a strong response early in the second half, cutting the deficit to four goals at 21-17. However, under the guidance of Spanish head coach Xavi Pascual, Egypt regained control and closed out a hard-fought 32-26 victory.
The final, billed as a showdown between the two most decorated teams in African handball history, quickly turned into a one-sided affair. Egypt seized the initiative from the opening moments to pull away to a commanding 17-10 advantage at halftime.
In the second half, Egypt tightened their grip on the contest and cruised to a resounding 37-24 victory, registering the largest winning margin ever recorded in the final of the championship. The previous record had also belonged to Egypt, set in the 2022 final against Cape Verde, and was surpassed by a single goal.
In the bronze medal match, Cape Verde overcame Algeria 29-23 after a tightly contested encounter. The victory secured Cape Verde’s second-ever medal in just their fourth appearance at the tournament, having finished fifth in 2020, runners-up in 2022, fourth in 2024, and third in 2026.
Egypt’s dominance extended beyond the team trophy, as the Pharaohs swept the majority of the individual awards. Mohamed Ali was named Best Goalkeeper, Ahmed Hesham “Sissa” earned the Best Left Wing award, Ahmed Hesham “Dodo” was crowned Best Left Back, and Mohamed Emad “Oka” claimed Best Right Wing honours. Yahia Khaled was named both Best Player of the Tournament and Best Right Back.
Following the conclusion of the championship, the top five teams in the final standings secured qualification for the 2027 Men’s World Championship. Egypt, Tunisia, Cape Verde and Algeria were joined by Angola who staged an impressive comeback to defeat Nigeria 25-20 in the fifth-place playoff. Angola will now return to the World Championship for the first time since 2021, marking their sixth appearance on the global stage.
In recognition of Egypt’s historic achievement, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi sent a message to the national team, congratulating the players and technical staff on their “outstanding performance” and praising their efforts in “elevating Egypt’s name and reaffirming the country’s leadership in African handball”.
Upon the team’s return to Cairo, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi welcomed the delegation, commending the players, coaches and administrative staff for their “exceptional accomplishment”.
Sobhi noted that the success was the result of clear planning, a structured long-term strategy, and sustained institutional backing, stressing that Egyptian handball had become a benchmark for professionalism, discipline, and excellence both continentally and internationally.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 5 February, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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