Laayoune/Handball: Egypt’s Al Ahly Retains Africa Men’s Club Crown & Angola’s Petro Atletico Wins Women’s Title
The 45th African handball clubs championship, organized in the Moroccan Saharan city of Laayoune (Oct.10-19) concluded with Egyptian Al Ahly club retaining its African title after trouncing in the final Benin’s Flowers CNSS 43-22.
Al Ahly reached the final thanks to their victory over their rivals Zamalek (26-25), while Flowers CNSS advanced to the final game after beating Moroccan club Mountada Derb Sultan (40-38) in a thrilling match.
In the women’s category, Angola’s Petro Atletico won the Laayoune African handball clubs championship after beating Tunisia’s Sahel Women’s Sports Association 35-30 in the final.
The Angolan club made it to the final after beating Al Ahly of Egypt (31-18), while the Tunisian team ousted Congo club AS Otoho (32-23) to advance to final. Al Ahly’s women’s club finished third in this African tournament.
The 45th African handball clubs championship held in Laayoune saw the participation of 27 African teams (16 men’s /11 women’s club champions) despite the Algerian regime’s hostile campaign.
In the men’s competition, host country took part with three clubs like Ethiopia, while Egypt, Congo, Cameroon and Benin were represented each by two teams. Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal sent each one team to Laayoune.
In the women’s category, 11 clubs were drawn in three groups: the first included Primeiro (Angola), FAP (Cameroon), Abidjan HBC (Ivory Coast) and Sahel Women’s Sports Association (Tunisia).