Seven of the best teams in Africa came on a collision course in the 30th edition of the CAHB African Super Cup, with a Final Four system implemented in both the men’s and the women’s competitions, as powerhouses from around the continent met in Cairo, Egypt, to fight for the big prizes.

With only three sides participating in the men’s competition, Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly were already through to the final, where they were expecting the semi-final winner between archrivals Zamalek and Jeunesse Sportive de Kinshasa.

Zamalek had little trouble against their opponents from the Democratic Republic of Congo and took a 25:10 lead at the break, doubling down in the second half, as they finished with a clear 46:25 win, earning a ticket to the final, where they met Al Ahly.

It was a tense battle between the two sides in the final, but Al Ahly sealed their second title in a row in the CAHB African Super Cup, as David Davis’ side took a 14:9 lead at the break and kept it until the end, clinching a 27:24 win after the regular 60 minutes of the game.

For Al Ahly, it was the third trophy won in the history of the CAHB African Super Cup, after the ones sealed in 2017 and 2022 and the second in a row, as they moved third in the all-time standings of the competition after MC Alger, which won the trophy nine times, and Zamalek, which have seven titles.

It was also the sixth consecutive trophy for Egyptian sides, as Egypt now have the highest number of trophies in the Men’s CAHB African Super Cup, one more than Algeria.

Al Ahly, who also had star left back Ali Zein in their squad, loaned from Romanian side Dinamo Bucuresti, also sealed their place at the IHF Men’s Super Globe, which will take place in November in Saudi Arabia, clinching their second berth in a row for the competition.

Angola’s domination in the Women’s CAHB African Super Cup was extended to 23 editions in a row, as the last non-Angolan team to have won the trophy was Cote d’Ivoire’s Africa Sports in 1997.

It was an all-Angola final after Primeiro de Agosto won their semi-final against Congo’s DGSP (33:27), while Petro Atletico Luanda delivered an excellent 30:14 win over Tunisia’s CSF Moknine.

Petro Atletico Luanda confirmed their excellent run of form with a 29:26 win over their archrivals, dominating the game from start to finish, sealing their 18th title in the competition after Primeiro de Agosto had a clean sweep between 2015 and 2021.

Photo: African Handball Federation