Twelve teams were ready to compete at the 2016 African Men’s Seniors African Nations Cup, taking place in Cairo, Egypt from 21 to 30 January. This is not the first time Egypt hosts the championship, since it was the host in 2004 and 2010 and hosted the World Men’s Handball Championship in 1999.
Egypt secured The African Cup after 21-19 win over North African rivals Tunisia on Saturday to win t22nd Men’s Seniors African Nations Cup and qualify for the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The Road to Rio de Janeiro Olympics 2016
The preliminary round and the quarter-finals were dominated by four teams: Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Angola. Egypt in group A and Tunisia in group B are unbeaten, Algeria was only defeated by Egypt (18:22) and Angola lost only against Tunisia (21:23). Now, the four teams face each other in the semi-finals – just like in 2014.
In the quarter-finals, hosts Egypt did not leave any doubts that they want to win the championship on home ground and steamrolled Congo (39:18). Angola had their difficulties against a strong Morocco team but won narrowly by one goal (22:21) to clinch their berth for the semi-finals. Algeria on the other hand, had no problems defeating DR Congo (34:25). Tunisia had to face Cameroon and took the win (24:20).
In the quarterfinal, the Egyptian men’s national handball team defeated the Congolese national men’s handball team, 39-18. The Tunisian men’s national handball team defeated Cameroon in their quarterfinal match, 24-20.

Egypt Handball Team Technical Skills
On the Arab scale, El-Ahmar won Best Player in the 2011 Arabic Championship in Saudi Arabia. Internationally, he received the best scorer in the 2010 World Cup for Clubs. Throughout the World Cups celebrated, he received the title of Man of the Match in several occasions, thanks to his performance in the following matches: Egypt versus Spain (2007), Egypt versus Tunisia (2009), Egypt versus Tunisia (2011), Egypt versus Algeria (2013), Egypt versus Slovenia (2013), Egypt versus Sweden (2015), and Egypt versus Algeria (2015).
Egypt has a great history in African handball since its national team won five out of the 21 African Handball Nations Championships held since 1974 until 2014. Egypt was the champion in 1991, 1992, 2000, 2004 and, 2008. The strongest rivals for Egypt in this sport are Algeria and Tunisia. Tunisia won these competitions, held every two years, nine times in 1974, 1976, 1979, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2012. Algeria, which won the 2014’s competitions, also won in 1996 and achieved five consecutive gold medals in these competitions in 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, and 1989.
Another notable international victory for Egypt’s national junior handball team was the handball competitions at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics in Singapore: South Korea finished in second place and France in third.
African Nations Cup Add-ons
This championship is the Pharaohs sixth continental title and their first since 2008, overcoming record winners Tunisia with an impressive display. Egypt also lifted the trophy in 1991, 92, 2000, 2004, and 2008.
Accordingly, Egypt will represent Africa in the Olympic Games and will also feature in next year’s World Championship in France also Egypt qualified for the 2017 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship and Rio De Janeiro Olympics 2016