Egypt's Ahly failed to lift the African Super Cup trophy for the first time after slumping to a 28-25 defeat by Tunisia's Etoile Sportive du Sahel in Sousse on Tuesday.

Etoile had the upper hand in a tense affair which was stopped twice in the second half.

The referee had to stop the game after a smell of smoke was discerned inside the indoor hall midway through the second half. The match was briefly halted again towards the end when both sides engaged in an argument.

Ahly briefly levelled the score at 21-21 in the 18th minute but Etoile increased the gap in the latter stages to claim the title and book a place at the IHF Super Globe.

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