The Tunisian under-18 handball team has advanced to the semifinals of the African Championship, which is being held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from September 15 to 22. They secured their spot after defeating Cameroon 35-18 in the quarterfinals. This victory also guaranteed Tunisia a spot in the 2027 Under-19 World Championship in North Macedonia. The team had topped Group B with a perfect record in the preliminary rounds.
In the quarterfinals, Tunisia was not the only team to secure a win. Egypt dominated Nigeria 55-21, while Morocco edged Côte d'Ivoire 30-27, and Guinea narrowly beat Rwanda 25-22. These results set up the semifinal matches, with Tunisia facing Guinea and Egypt taking on Morocco. The Tunisian team had previously defeated Algeria 33-31 and Madagascar 62-20 in the group stages.
The Tunisian team's performance in the group stages was impressive, with wins over Nigeria 32-23, Madagascar 62-20, and Algeria 33-31. They finished top of Group B with six points from three matches. Nigeria and Algeria followed with four and two points respectively, while Madagascar had zero points. The team's victories demonstrated their strong form heading into the knockout stages.
The African Championship features eight teams competing for the title. The semifinals will see Tunisia face Guinea, who beat Rwanda 25-22, and Egypt take on Morocco, who won against Côte d'Ivoire 30-27. The winners of these matches will advance to the final, while the losers will compete for the bronze medal. The championship is an important event for African handball, with qualification for the World Championship also on the line.
Tunisia's coach and players will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament and claim the championship title. The team's victory over Cameroon in the quarterfinals demonstrated their capability, and they will be confident against Guinea in the semifinals. The competition is expected to be fierce, with several teams having a strong chance of advancing to the final.
The 2027 Under-19 World Championship, which Tunisia has qualified for, will take place in North Macedonia from July 29 to August 9, 2027. This provides an opportunity for the team's young players to gain experience at the international level. The African Championship serves as a crucial stepping stone for teams preparing for the World Championship.
The semifinals and finals of the African Championship are expected to draw large crowds in Abidjan. The event has already seen some exciting matches, and the competition is set to intensify as the teams battle for the top spots. Tunisia's match against Guinea will be a closely watched contest, with both teams eager to advance to the final.
Key points
- Tunisia's under-18 handball team secured a spot in the 2027 Under-19 World Championship with their quarterfinal win over Cameroon.
- The team will face Guinea in the semifinals of the African Championship.
- The African Championship is being held in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from September 15 to 22.
