A dynamic encounter, full of twists and turns, saw Egypt secure their second win in two days at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship, after a hard-fought battle with fellow African side Tunisia, 25:24. Egypt and Switzerland have now qualified to the main round, becoming the first two sides to earn their tickets between the top 16 teams in the competition.

GROUP B
Egypt vs Tunisia 25:24 (13:13)

A true African derby between Egypt and Tunisia always brings a lot of dramatic moments to the table, in fiery encounters, and the match scheduled for the second day of the 2024 IHF Women’s Junior World Championship made no exception, delivering some mouth-watering twists and turns, with lead changes, comebacks and a dramatic finish.

Last September, the two sides met in the preliminary round of the 2023 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship, with Egypt taking a hard-fought 30:27 win, after Tunisia cut a serious lead in the second half. But this time around, the match was even more balanced.

It looked like Egypt definitely had the upper hand, as left back Lojin Osama Abdalla converted her first four shots, while fellow back Touka Kamel Gadallah added three more goals, with the African’s side back line firing from all cylinders, to open a six-goal lead, 10:4, after only 14 minutes.

Tunisia had no answer, but then they changed their defensive approach, from a traditional 6-0 to a more aggressive 5-1, with Egypt having no answer for this change.  In only nine minutes, Tunisia rode a 7:1 partial to tie the match, 11:11, and send Egypt back to the drawing board.

But Egypt found themselves in more trouble, as Tunisia started the second half better, taking their first lead of the match. In that moment, Egypt switched Mariam Omar Ibrahim from the left wing to the centre back position and she spurred a 4:1 run, with four consecutive goals, to lift once again Egypt to a two-goal lead, 19:17, with 17 minutes to go.

This time, Egypt were more careful, despite Tunisia’s right wing Houda Rmiza scoring nine goals and becoming their top scorer of the match. But Omar, the Alkaloid Player of the Match, voted by fans on the IHF.info website and on the IHF app,  was absolutely unstoppable, scoring 10 goals, including seven in the second half, as her switch to the back position created exactly the X-factor needed by Egypt to secure their second win in as many matches.

As hard as they tried, Tunisia missed three chances to tie the match in the final moments, as Egypt delivered a good finish, especially in defence, protecting that lead, 25:24, while clinching their second win in as many matches.

Egypt have now qualified alongside Switzerland to the main round, but the number of points taken by each side in the next phase will be decided in their mutual encounter on Saturday, as Tunisia are still looking for their first win, which could come against Chile.

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Mariam Omar Ibrahim (Egypt)