Al Ahly secured the African Handball Champions League title for the ninth time in their history after defeating Zamalek 26-25 in the tournament final held in Angola.
A Decisive Final Seconds Goal
The match remained balanced throughout regulation time, concluding in a 22-22 draw. The contest moved into two periods of extra time to determine the winner. With only 5 seconds remaining on the clock, Al Ahly player Mohamed Hisham Bassiouny, known as “Modi,” scored the winning goal. Speaking to the club’s official media, Modi described the moment as a result of staying focused until the final second, noting that the team remained committed despite significant fatigue and the necessity of playing extra time.
Consecutive Continental Dominance
This win extends Al Ahly’s title run to four consecutive African Champions League crowns. According to tournament records, this achievement places the club alongside the Algerian side, the petroleum complex team (المجمع البترولي الجزائري), which previously achieved four consecutive titles twice, from 1997 to 2000 and from 2003 to 2006. For Zamalek, the result leaves their total count at 12 titles, maintaining their standing as the most crowned clubs in the competition, with their last victory dating back to 2019 in Cape Verde.
Team Resilience Following the Club World Cup
The path to the trophy was physically demanding for the Al Ahly squad. Modi revealed that the players finished the Club World Cup and the bronze medal achievement, then traveled on the following day directly to participate in the African Champions League, maintaining their focus over two weeks despite the exhaustion. Goalkeeper Abdel Rahman Hamid was noted for his performance in the extra time periods, contributing to Al Ahly’s victory in securing the ninth title.
Tournament Context and Rivalry
The final against Zamalek was characterized by the intensity typical of the derby between the two teams. Modi emphasized that finals and derbies always have different calculations regardless of the level of the two teams, noting that attention to small details by playing until the second last regardless of the result brings championships.
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