Congo’s Étoile du Congo has made a new history by reaching the top of the African Handball Men’s Clu..
Congo’s Étoile du Congo has made a new history by reaching the top of the African Handball Men’s Club Cup Winners for the first time in history.
In the men’s division of the 42nd African Men’s and Women’s Club Cup Winners’ Handball Championships held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo from the 9th to the 14th, Etoal du Congo beat Cameroon’s FAP Yaounde 19-16 in the final.
Six teams from five countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Morocco and Cameroon, participated in the men’s division of the tournament, and the top two teams from each group advanced to the semifinals after being divided into two groups.
In Group A, Morocco’s Montada dominated the group stage. After defeating the AS Police of the Democratic Republic of Congo 32-20, Etoal Du Congo also defeated 30-21, ranking first in the group with two wins.
Etoile du Congo defeated AS Police 30-19 to reach the semi-finals as the second-ranked team in the group, and Justin Mbani Mpika led the attack with 12 goals.
In Group B, host Junese Sportive de Kinshasa of the Democratic Republic of Congo finished first in the group, beating Scorpion HC 33-15 after drawing 19-19 with Cameroon’s FAP Yaounde. FAP Yaounde joined the semifinals as second in the group, beating Scorpion HC 26-16.
In the semi-finals, a huge upset was made. The favorite Montada trailed 9-13 in the first half against FAP Yaounde before tying the game 23-23 with three minutes left in the second half due to Brahim Hafiz’s performance. However, they lost 24-25 to Jean Marie Mbida a minute before the end.
In the other semi-final, Etoile du Congo also defeated host Junes Sportive de Kinshasa 25-24. David Bikim Bi Ndjee, Dobenech Bouye Mbou and Serge Okoko Elenga scored six goals each to lead the victory.
The final was a fierce defensive battle. Etoile du Congo led 10-9 in the first half before holding on to the lead in the second half to win 19-16. David Bikim Bijnje, Vang-Sy Tati Costodes and Justin Mbani Mpika all scored 13 goals to lead the championship.
Etual du Congo was ranked third in 1998, but this victory marked the first team in the history of the tournament to give the trophy to the club of the Republic of Congo for the first time in the history of the tournament.
Third place was taken by Junes Sportive de Kinshasa, who defeated Montada 32-26.
Montada’s Brahim Hafeez won the tournament’s top scorer with 28 goals, followed by Etoal Du Congo’s Justin Mbani Mpika with 27 goals.
[Kim Yongpil, MK Sports Reporter]
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