🇪🇬 EGYPTIAN WOMEN OVERCOME EARLY ALGERIAN ONSLAUGHT TO RETAIN TEAM SABRE CROWN

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST — 5 JUNE 2026

World number 17 Egypt completed a brilliant title defense on the fifth and final day of the 24th African Fencing Championships, capturing the women's team sabre gold medal. The top-seeded Egyptian unit—comprising Renad Eldoksh, Noha Hany, Alanoud Hegazy, and individual bronze medallist Nagwa Nofal—withstood a furious opening salvo from geographic rivals Algeria before staging an exceptional middle-round rally to squeeze out a thrilling 45–42 victory.

The gold medal underlines Egypt's absolute supremacy at the continental championships, effectively sweeping all six available team trophies across the week in Abidjan.

Algeria matched their 2025 performance to finish with a highly competitive silver medal, while Senegal clinically secured the bronze to leave the unranked hosts, Ivory Coast, in fourth place.

Path to the Podium

Egypt (World number 17) started their day in routine fashion, giving up single-digit scores across multiple legs to cruise past host nation Ivory Coast 45–11 in the semi-finals.

The gold medal final against world number 18 Algeria, however, tested the defending champions' emotional resilience to the absolute maximum. Algeria roared out of the starting blocks, with newly crowned individual champion Zhora Kehli turning in a 5–0 shutout over Hegazy, followed by a clinical 5–1 run from Abik Boungab against Nofal. Despite a spirited 7–1 response from Egypt's Eldoksh in the third leg, the Algerians commanded an imposing 15–8 lead entering the middle tier.

Egypt's veteran depth proved decisive from there. Hegazy sparked the comeback in the fourth leg, out-scoring Boungab 10–5, before Nofal turned the match on its head with a spectacular 9–3 blitz against Kaouther Mohamed Belkebir in the sixth leg to snatch a 30–28 lead. In a high-voltage, point-for-point final rotation, the Egyptians relied on precise parry-ripostes to hold off a late Algerian push and seal the championship.

Algeria (World number 18) earned a well-deserved silver medal, demonstrating exceptional tactical variety and explosive speed off the line. The dangerous lineup—featuring individual bronze medallist Abik Boungab, Kaouther Mohamed Belkebir, individual champion Zhora Kehli, and Chaima Benadouda—booked their place in the championship final by putting on an absolute clinic against Senegal, rolling to an authoritative 45–17 victory.

Senegal (World number 46) rebounded flawlessly from their heavy semi-final defeat to capture the bronze medal with a thoroughly dominant performance. The trio of Awa Diop, Awa Diedhiou, and Tening Diallo were completely mesmeric from their opening phrases against the host nation. The Senegalese unit restricted Ivory Coast to just four hits through the first three legs to build a 15–4 cushion, expanded that lead to a massive 30–9 margin after six bouts, and comfortably ran out winners by a handsome 45–16 scoreline.

Ivory Coast (Unranked) fought valiantly to capture a highly respectable fourth-place finish in front of their home fans. The newly formed home quartet of Noura Camara, Marie Lorng, Aurore Tanoh, and Raishat Odereni found themselves out-pointed by the superior top-tier international circuit experience of Egypt and Senegal, yet their high-spirited teamwork throughout the tournament provided a strong foundational milestone for the host nation's emerging women's sabre program.

Full results here.