🇪🇬 EGYPTIAN MONOPOLY: AHMED HESHAM EDGES ELSISSY TO RETAIN AFRICAN SABRE TITLE

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST — 2 JUNE 2026

Egypt’s world number 3 Ahmed Hesham successfully defended his continental men’s sabre crown at the 24th African Fencing Championships, emerging victorious from an absolute heavyweight battle on the second day of competition. Hesham, the 2025 World Championship bronze medallist, held his nerve in an incredibly intense all-Egyptian final to defeat world number 15 Ziad Elsissy 15–14.

The triumph cemented a historic clean sweep for Egypt, as all four podium steps in the individual men's sabre event were occupied by the North African powerhouse.

Elsissy, the 2023 World Championship bronze medallist, took home the silver after pushing the champion to the final touch. The bronze medals were shared by former continental champions Mohamed Amer and Adham Moataz.

Path to the Podium

Ahmed Hesham (World number 3) enjoyed a flawless start to his title defence, executing a perfect 6–0 sweep in the ranking round to claim the number 1 overall seed for the knockout bracket. After receiving a first-round bye, the defending champion effortlessly cruised past Mali’s Boubacar Ballo 15–4 and Nigeria’s Chinedu Brou 15–9. Hesham hit peak form in the semi-finals, decisively shifting gears to dominate his veteran teammate Amer 15–6 before coming out on top of a classic 15–14 chess match against Elsissy in the final.

Ziad Elsissy (World number 15) booked his place in the final with a ruthless display of aggressive counter-attacks. Securing the 3rd seed following a clean 5–0 run in the poules, the veteran Egyptian picked up back-to-back 15–5 blowout victories over Senegal's Moustapha Diame and Mali's Mahamadou Samake. In the semi-finals, Elsissy engaged in a high-octane tactical duel with Moataz, showcasing superior blade speed late in the match to claim a 15–12 victory.

Mohamed Amer (World number 22) secured the bronze medal by pulling off the most dramatic individual upset of the day. The 2024 African Champion advanced as the 5th seed and comfortably dispatched Senegal's Amadou Thiam 15–5 in the round of 16. In the quarter-finals, Amer faced world number 11 and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist Fares Ferjani (TUN). In a thrilling, point-for-point epic, Amer produced a magnificent tactical action on the final phrase to seal a 15–14 giant-killing triumph and guarantee his spot on the podium.

Adham Moataz (World number 20) added another continental medal to his collection, securing bronze after taking individual silver at the last three consecutive editions of the African Championships. Moataz locked down the number 2 seed with a perfect poule performance and maintained his dominant form in the direct elimination stages, crushing Senegal's Papa Mbaye 15–5 and Algeria's Zacharia Bounachada 15–6 before falling just short against Elsissy.

Full results here.