Zamalek took the silver medal at the 43rd Men’s Handball African Club Championship held from 30 September to 9 October in Tunisia. The White Knights were unable to successfully defend their title, losing to the most decorated team, Espérance Sportive de Tunis. Zamalek had broken a nine-year wait and were looking to secure the trophy for the second time.

Ahly of Egypt took the bronze medal with a 30-22 win against another Tunisian outfit Club Africain.

The path to the title was not easy as Espérance fought domestic rivals Africain, winning 30-22 while Zamalek beat local arch-rivals Ahly 26-25, qualifying for the final with a goal scored with only 30 seconds to go.

Espérance won triple titles this season: the Arab Handball Championship of Champions and the Tunisian Cup, crushing the White Knights 28-24, stopping a five-trophy streak by Egyptian clubs Zamalek and Ahly dating back to 2015.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.