The men’s gold medal match of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games is set to be a classic on the Saly Beach West sand.

When Germany play Brazil on Friday (13 November) it will be a clash between the two top-ranked teams going into the event with 2025 world championship silver medallists Germany against bronze medallists Brazil.

At Tunisia 2025 the teams did not meet but they meet now on the greatest stage of all – an Olympic Games final.

 

Brazil’s resilience carrying them through to Olympic podium

“It sounds unbelievable to me, it’s a childhood dream and there no words to describe it,” said Brazil’s Tulio CASTRO to IHF.info about being in an Olympic Games final. “We have a dream to win the gold medal. I don’t know how we will beat Germany but we came to find the gold medal.”

Brazil overcame the strong test of Hungary in the semi-final, winning via shoot-out 16:14, sparking wild celebrations, none moreso than coach Junior CARDOZO who run around the court rubbing his head in disbelief.

“It was like a movie was playing out in my head, we have worked with young players from all over Brazil over the course of a four-year cycle. Some of them have struggled mentally, but through this sport, they are able to keep going.”

Coach CARDOZO has set his team up to entertain and anyone familiar with the sport will see Brazilian character throughout the younger age group, combined with a strong mentality.

“We have a resilient nature; we never give up and we fight until the very end,” says the coach about why his team are able to continue winning.

“Before our semi-final I told the players; ‘We have two medals to compete for. Today is for everyone who has helped us along the way. Tomorrow, we’ll go after our own,’ but Germany are physically strong; they have the advantage in terms of height and reach compared to us. However, our athletes are very experienced in this sport, they have a great many matches under their belts and I believe that helps level the playing field.”

 

Last-minute adaptations needed for Germany

After a direct red card for key leader and specialist, Mads KRUEGER, in Germany’s semi-final against Senegal, coach Konrad BANSA admitted that he and his coaching team will have to come up with a new solution to the threat posed by Brazil ahead of their gold medal clash.

“It will be the first game where we are the underdog because of our personnel situation and the suspension so we will have to make a new plan,” said BANSA to IHF.info. “We will try to do again a very good defence with a very good goalkeeper so we have the freedom to play in attack but Brazil’s strengths are good wingers and a good defence so it will be very hard for us.”

“Brazil are a very athletic team,” added Germany defender Tayo RODRIGUEZ. “We don't know them as we didn’t play them yet, but we know a few players from the world championship last year; they have a good goalkeeper, a very tall defence, and pass-attack players. It will be difficult against them so we will see. We have to be prepared and we will.”

That preparation for the final comes at what will be the end of a long journey – despite their young age (2008-10 generation) – for the German squad at youth level.

“When I started playing beach handball, 4, 5, 6 years ago it was in a small club in Germany, in Bremen. We played in the summer from time-to-time,” explained RODRIGUEZ. “There was no way I would have believed I would be playing in an Olympic Games and be winning a medal. To come to the Olympics was just a dream. I never imagined that I would go so far on the national team and it’s been an amazing experience.

“Everyone is very excited and it such an amazing opportunity to be at the Olympic Games,” added the ATSV Habenhausen club player. “It’s so big, and everyone is cheering for us from home and here. They are watching our games in schools, in private and it's amazing that we have everyone’s parents here, including mine. “

And for BANSA, the chance to play in another final after their disappointing world championship loss 0-2 (8:16, 12:15) in the gold medal match last year cannot come soon enough.

“The biggest feeling is joy and a little bit of relief,” said the coach after the Senegal semi-final victory. “We were second last year in the world championship and dreamed of playing again in a final.

“It’s absolutely amazing we are Olympic medallists already: this was the main goal. But the dream goes on, and for the mentality it will be a little bit easier because we have won a medal already, but there's still the gold and there can be only one winner.”

Both teams won all their preliminary group games to top their groups, Germany with a perfect 6:0 sets record and Brazil with a 6:1 record, after a shoot-out victory against the host nation. Quarter-finals were won 2-0 and both sides came through their semi-finals via shoot-outs.

In total, Germany have scored 215 points in their five games so far and conceded a tournament low of just 103, while Brazil have been free-flowing in attack, scoring 267 and conceding 186.