The 2018 CAHB Men’s African Championships finished on Saturday (27 January) in Libreville, Gabon with north African nation Tunisia being crowned champions of the 23rd edition of the competition which started back in the country in 1974.

 

The Tunisian side, coached by Toni Gerona, beat Egypt 26:24 to claim the title, which came as a relief after they lost their two previous finals, in 2014, against Algeria (25:21) and last time around, in 2016, against Egypt (21:19).

 

The title is the 10th title for the Tunisians, putting them clear on double figures in the all-time winning list and the side have contested the continental final – held every two years – since 2002.

 

Title holders Egypt went into the 33-game tournament as strong favourites, complete with the highly-effective Ali Zein, and the final looked to be a straightforward affair as the ‘Pharaohs’ took a +4 lead in the 23rd minute (14:10) and went into the break 15:13 up.

 

However, Tunisia came back, their defence stood strong and eventually they went ahead, going two up in the 43rd minute before adding another to go three up (22:19, 40th minute) and 25:22 (56th), which was enough to see them out until the end of the game.

 

Missing top stars before the tournament like Wael Jallouz and Osama Boughanmi, Tunisia’s youngsters stood up and were counted, none less than the deadly Skander Zaied, who made such an impression at the 2017 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in Algeria where he finished as the tournament top-scorer.

 

The title was Tunisia’s, but Egypt will have the blow softened with second place ensuring qualification for the 2019 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany and Denmark which will also welcome champions Tunisia and Angola, who beat Morocco for bronze.

 

Gabon's President Ali Bongo Ondimba, in the presence of CAHB President Aremou Mansourou, presented the trophies in Gabon, where the home side, coached by Jackson Richardson, can be pleased with a fifth-place finish after seeing off Algeria 24:23.

 

FINAL RANKING

 

1 Gold              TUN* 

2 Silver             EGY*

3 Bronze           ANG*

4 MAR

5 GAB

6 ALG

7 CGO

8 COD

9 CMR

10 NGR

 

*Qualified for 2019 IHF Men’s World Championship, GER/DEN

FINAL MATCHES AND PLACEMENT ROUND RESULTS

 

Saturday 27 January

 

Final

TUN vs EGY 26:24 (13:15)

 

Bronze Medal (3/4 Placement)

ANG vs MAR 29:26 (17:13)

 

5/6 Placement

ALG vs GAB 23:24 (14:9)

 

7/8 Placement

COD vs CGO 23:24 (10:9)

 

Thursday 25 January

 

Semi-Finals

TUN vs ANG 34:14 (16:3)

EGY vs MAR 31:19 (14:4)

 

5-8 Placement Round (Day 1)

 

COD vs ALG 24:29 (14:15)

GAB vs CGO 31:30 (16:20) (after additional time)

 

9/10 Placement Match

CMR vs NGR 27:19 (16:10)

Photo: CAHB