Egypt deliver perfect performance to seal maiden title at the 2025 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship

Egypt secured a historic title at the 2025 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship, the first in the nation’s history, after sweeping their opponents and winning the final, 25:22, against Guinea.

Runners-up at the previous two editions in 2022 and 2023, this Egypt generation delivered yet another fantastic performance, building upon their win two years ago at the CAHB African Women's Youth Handball Championship, to become the seventh team to win the title in 22 editions of the competition.

11 teams lined up for the competition which took place in Oran, Algeria, with two groups of six and five teams respectively being on the cards, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the semi-finals.

In Group A, Egypt were flawless and had the best attacking output from any team, scoring 188 goals and conceding 94 goals in the five matches played. They started with a 43:22 win over DR Congo and followed up with wins over Zambia (40:17), Burkina Faso (44:17), Tunisia (26:22) and Cote d’Ivoire (35:16).

Tunisia finished second, as their loss against Egypt was the only one, seeing off Burkina Faso (33:15), Cote d’Ivoire (35:23), Zambia (42:22) and DR Congo (33:22).

In Group B, Guinea and Angola were the teams which progressed. Guinea had four wins in four matches, dispatching Angola (26:21), Kenya (41:30), Algeria (25:19) and Mali (38:20). The battle for the second place in the group and the second semi-finals berth was between Angola and Algeria, with Angola eventually progressing, after a 23:16 win in the last match of the group.

Winners of five of the last six editions of the competition, Angola provided a hefty challenge for Egypt, with the semi-final being decided in overtime. After 30 minutes, the two teams were deadlocked, 11:11, and at the end of the regular 60 minutes, Egypt and Angola were still tied, 21:21.

A 5:4 run in overtime saw Egypt clinch a 26:25 win and progress to the final, while in the second semi-final, Guinea took control in the second half against Tunisia to clinch a 28:22 win, after Tunisia had a 13:10 lead at the break.

Egypt were down 12:11 at the break, but bounced back in style with a stunning defensive display in the second half, where they conceded only 10 goals, to secure the title with a 25:22 win, clinching their maiden title in history. Guinea also finished second for the first time, after previously clinching bronze medals in 2019 and 2024.

The podium was completed by Angola, which took their 18th medal in history, after a 26:22 win against Tunisia.

The top four teams - Egypt, Guinea, Angola and Tunisia - have also qualified for the 2026 IHF Women's Junior World Championship.

This event will also served as the African Continental Phase of the IHF Trophy Women 2025. Four teams, which have won their Zones throughout the year, were at the start of the competition, with the winners of Zone II – Guinea, Zone III – Burkina Faso,  Zone V – Kenya and Zone VI – Zambia lining up.

Guinea won this competition, having finished second, with Burkina Faso ending seventh, Kenya eighth and Zambia on the 11th place in the competition.

2025 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship – final standings

1. Egypt
2. Guinea
3. Angola
4. Tunisia, 5. Algeria, 6. Cote d’Ivoire, 7. Burkina Faso, 8. Kenya, 9. DR Congo, 10. Mali, 11. Zambia

Photo credit: Egyptian Handball Federation