Handball - Egypt faces Tunisia in the African final

CAIRO – 27January 2018:The Egyptian handball national team is set to meet Tunisia on Saturday evening at 08:00 p.m. (CLT) in the 2018 African Handball Championship final in Gabon.

The Egyptian team aims to repeat 2016's victory over Tunisia in the final of the same competition and also hopes to amass the seventh title in their history.

Egypt guaranteed a place in the Handball World Cup finals which will be held in Germany and Denmark in 2019.

Khalid al-Awadi, vice president of the handball federation and head of Egypt's delegation in Gabon, confirmed that he is confident the Pharaohs will achieve the African title, pointing out that the players will do their best to return with the African Cup.

Egypt faced Tunisia in the final seven championships ago and won the title in four occasions while Tunisia grabbed the title three times.

The Egyptian team's players’ list includes Karim Hendawy, Mohamed Ali, Mohamed Essam, Omar El Wakil, Karim Ayman, Ali Zain, Islam Hassan, Mohab Hossam, Ahmed El Ahmar, Hamasa, Mamdouh Taha, Yehia Khaled, Mohamed Sanad, Mohamed Ibrahim, Mohamed Mamdouh Hashem, Mohamed Ramadan, Ibrahim El Masry and Wessam Samy Nawar.

Three Arab nations have dominated the winners’ podium since the tournament’s inception. Tunisia has won 9 titles, Algeria has won 7 titles and Egypt has won 6 titles.

Gabon hosts the 23rd edition of the tournament between January 17 and 27, 2018.

The Pharaohs are aiming to win their seventh title in their history.