Both Senegal and Angola went into the final of the 23rd CAHB African Women’s Championship yesterday with their spots at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship in Japan next year already confirmed, but with continental pride at stake.

With that place confirmed at Japan, West African side Senegal had already made a small piece of their own history, qualifying for their first-ever world championship, and the final in Congo was just the second-ever time they had reached one of the top two places in the continental championship, following their second place at the first-ever African women’s handball championship, held in Tunisia in 1974.

The 2018 final saw Senegal take on Angola and it was a real battle between the record title-holders and their challengers.

After six minutes, the Senegal side, coached by former Fluery Loiret, Nantes and Rostov Don coach Fred Bougeant, were 3:1 up and causing Angola to worry, but it was to get better for Bougeant’s side as they went on a 6:0 run to lead by eight goals (9:1) in the 17th minute and stun the Angolans, who had won 12 of the last 15 championships.

But the record title-holders can never be discounted, and a strong second 15 minutes of the first period saw them come back to just three goals down (10:7) at the break and the Angolan side, led by the Portuguese-speaking former Brazil women's coach Morten Soubak, went on their own 6:0 run to take a commanding 13:10 lead in the 44th minute.

Senegal tried to keep in touch, but with under four minutes left, the Angolans extended their lead to six (18:12), before the 60 minutes ended with them five in front (19:14) and a record 13th continental championship in the bag.

“We had a dream lead at 9:1 in the first half,” said Bougeant after the match. “But then we had no energy and Angola could use their high level experience, but to restrict them to just 19 goals is a great performance.

“I want to congratulate my players and thank all the staff and leaders involved with Senegal handball – our project is launched, we will learn and come back stronger.”

In the other match of the final day, DR Congo confirmed a bronze medal and spot at the 2019 IHF Women’s World Championship in Japan, with a 33:22 win over Cameroon. The previous day had seen Guinea confirm seventh place with a 34:22 win over Algeria and host nation Congo claim fifth, with an eight-goal win (31:23) over Tunisia.

The final day of games from Brazzaville were streamed live on the African Handball Confederation Facebook page.

Tuesday 11 December

7-8 Placement Match: GUI vs ALG 34:22

5-6 Placement Match: TUN vs CGO 23:31

Wednesday 12 December

Bronze Match: COD vs CMR 33:22 (16:10)

Gold/Final: SEN vs ANG 14:19 (10:7)

1 – Angola (ANG)

2 – Senegal (SEN)

3 – DR Congo (COD)

4 – Cameroon (CMR)

5 – Congo (CGO)

6 – Tunisia (TUN)

7 – Guinea (GUI)

8 – Algeria (ALG)

9 – Cote d’Ivoire (CIV)

10 – Morocco (MAR)