🇪🇬 EGYPT CRUISES TO WOMEN’S TEAM EPEE GOLD AFTER SOUTH AFRICA’S SEMI-FINAL HEROICS

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST — 5 JUNE 2026

World number 20 Egypt put a golden exclamation point on a wildly dominant week at the 24th African Fencing Championships, successfully defending their women's team epee continental title on the final day of competition. The elite top-seeded unit—featuring Nardin Ehab, Farah Mahfouz, Loulwa Soliman, and Aya Hussein—capitalized on their immense depth to comfortably defeat a physically spent South Africa 45–27 in the gold medal match.

The victory concludes an unprecedented, total sweeps week for Egypt, who secured all six available team championship trophies in Abidjan.

While Egypt captured the crown, South Africa took home an incredibly hard-earned silver medal following an epic, single-touch semi-final saga. Morocco secured the bronze, leaving world number 29 Algeria in fourth.

Path to the Podium

Egypt (World number 20) fenced their way through the seven-team bracket with clinical, mistake-free execution. After receiving a first-round bye as the top seed, they comfortably advanced through the semi-finals by systematically shutting down Morocco’s offensive options in a 45–23 blowout.

In the final against South Africa, the Egyptians never let their opponents breathe. Recognizing that the South Africans had exhausted massive energy reserves in the previous round, Egypt bounded out to a quick 15–10 lead after three legs. They continuously extended the target gap across the middle stages to hold a commanding 30–17 advantage after six bouts, easing through the final frame to retain their crown.

South Africa (World number 33) authored the absolute match of the day in the semi-finals to upgrade their 2025 bronze to a historic continental silver. The lineup of Alexandra Lancaster, Sacha McCabe, Phakama Yantolo and Phumza Yantolo engaged in an absolute classic against Algeria. South Africa led a cagey opening tier 9–8 before Algeria's Ines Taleb exploded for an 11–9 leg over McCabe to swing momentum.

South Africa aggressively recovered to lead 36–34 after seven legs and expanded that to a seemingly safe 40–32 cushion heading into the final bout. In a frantic finish, Algerian anchor Charline Boukhekifa went on an unbelievable 10–3 tear, nearly stealing the tie. However, South Africa held their nerve on the final phrase to survive a 43–42 thriller.

Morocco (World number 53) celebrated a major milestone by locking down the bronze medal, out-pointing the higher-ranked Algerians with a beautifully structured performance. The smart rotation of Soha Douchi-Habane, Marwa Ellis, Camilia El Kord, and Maenel Roger took control of the third-place play-off from the onset, driving to a 15–10 advantage after three relays. As the match settled into a passive tactical rhythm in the middle rounds, the Moroccans expertly managed clock priority to open a 29–22 cushion before comfortably closing out a 45–35 win.

Algeria (World number 29) had to endure a heartbreaking fourth-place finish, concluding a day where they fell just short of a pair of sensational comebacks. The roster of Charline Boukhekifa, Rahana Larbi Bouaouina, Ines Taleb, and Yousra Zebboudj showed immense fighting spirit—particularly during Boukhekifa’s spectacular 10-touch anchor onslaught in the semi-finals—but were ultimately unable to convert their chances into a spot on the podium.

Full results here.