Back in 2019, when Egypt won their maiden title at the IHF Men’s Youth World Championship, centre back Ahmed Hesham was named the MVP of the competition, dazzling with his skills.

Fast, creative and with a powerful shot, Hesham looked like the complete package and soon enough, one year later, he moved from his club, Heliopolis, to USAM Nîmes Gard in France.

In 2021, though, Hesham’s career took a sharp turn, after he was diagnosed with an ACL tear, the kind of injury that ends a season and can derail a career. The Egypt centre back confirmed the recovery was difficult and doubts started appearing in his mind.

Two years later, when he moved to Montpellier Handball, the promising centre back suffered another ACL injury, forcing another surgery and several months of rehabilitation.

And then, at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, Hesham suffered yet another minor injury, forcing him out of the main round, but came back roaring in the lost quarter-final against France, 33:34, where he scored eight goals.

 

But now he’s back at full strength and in his second year at Veszprém HC, Hesham really looks like he found his place.

“It’s amazing. I love the atmosphere, and the team is amazing. Year by year, we’re getting to know each other better. For me, the chemistry is everything,” says Hesham.

That chemistry is also helped by the fact that he is surrounded by three teammates from the national team – left backs Ali Zein and Yehia Elderaa and line player Ahmed Adel – as well as the Egypt national team coach, Xavi Pascual, who took over the African team last year, right around when he started his tenure at Veszprém.

“We’re turning Hungary into Egypt now! With our music and everything, we’re turning it into Egypt,” laughs Hesham.

So that’s the dressing room playlist in Veszprém?

“Exactly. Everything is Egyptian now. No one’s going to change us,” smiles Hesham.

Winners of the IHF Men’s Club World Championship in 2024 and runners-up in 2025, Veszprém have assembled a star-studded squad for this season. On the right back position, they have Nedim Remili and Ivan Martinovic. On the centre back, Hesham shares duties with Luka Cindrić and Stefan Dodić. Hesham is also joined by Ali Zein and Yehia Elderaa in the back line, providing fantastic depth in the squad.

 

Add newly-signed goalkeeper Emil Nielsen between the posts, Lukas Jørgensen on the pivot and Hugo Descat and Yanis Lenne on the wings, and you have a multiple-headed monster ready to take on any opponent.

And that chemistry is being pushed by a true brotherhood in the locker room, despite the team having players from 11 different nationalities. 

A shrewd eye can observe that Hesham is one of the souls of the team, being a key part in maintaining a good atmosphere. Whenever he goes out from a stint on the court, some secret handshakes are happening with his teammates.

But a secret handshake with every teammate?

“With everyone! Everyone has a secret handshake with me. It’s important. That’s my thing - everyone has to have a secret handshake with me,” continues Hesham.

For the third consecutive edition, Veszprém are at the IHF Men’s Club World Championship, the major international competition where they ended a drought of almost 20 years, after previously winning the EHF Cup Winners’ Cup in 2008.

And they aim for nothing but the win, with an exigent coach like Xavi Pascual leaving no stone left unturned to make his team better.

 

“It’s special to play under someone with his tactical mind. He’s also with us four on the national team, so we know what he likes and what he doesn’t like. For me, it’s comfortable to have a coach who knows you, knows how to get the best out of you and knows how to make you better,” explains Hesham.

But being here, in Egypt, is something special for the Egypt centre back, especially as Veszprém won their second match of this edition of the IHF Men’s Club World Championship against Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly, 31:23.

“Of course, it’s always an honour. I love playing in my hometown. When you go away for pre-season for two or three months, you don’t see your family. So I’m really happy to play in front of them, see them every day and have them come to visit me. It’s really good for my mind,” says Hesham.

“Yeah, it’s crazy. The fans in Egypt support their clubs no matter what the score is. They’re here for the club. Ahly, Zamalek - they support them until the end.”

While rivals, those fans and some of the players of both sides will join forces and support their national team in just a few months, in January 2027.

Then, Egypt will head to Germany for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship, where the African side finished eighth, seventh, seventh and fifth respectively in the previous four editions.

With a fantastic generation and plenty of experience, as well as Pascual on the bench, the objective is clear.

And Hesham knows it.

“Our goal is to win it, or at least win a medal,” explains the centre back.

Now in his prime, at 26 years old, Hesham knows what a tournament of that calibre is. And Egypt will be one of the teams to watch in four months’ time.