2018 Women's African Nations Cup = African Championship (Congo)

[Wbk]

The playing dates are 2 November to 12 December 2018. The hosting city is Brazzaville.

Winner of the tournament qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Runner up qualify for one of the 2020 Olympic Qualification Tournaments.

Teams ranked 1st-3rd qualify for the 2019 WCh.


* Wiki page
* African Handball Confederation website

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Schedule:

[Wbk]

Results of 2 Dec 2018:

A SENEGAL 23-18 (11-8) CAMEROON
A ALGERIA 27-25 (14-12) IVORY COAST

B ANGOLA 40-17 (24-7) GUINEA
B CONGO 36-23 (15-11) MOROCCO

[mikh]

Algeria's win vs. Cote d'Ivoire was a little surprising, considering the CIV were used to participating at WCh.
Second surprising result came today, Tunisia - Senegal 21:26. But then again, Senegal beat Tunisia 2 years ago as well in the semis before being disqualified for using an ineligible player, a fact which was conveniently revealed only after the semis.

[Lucy]

Algeria's win vs. Cote d'Ivoire was a little surprising, considering the CIV were used to participating at WCh.
Second surprising result came today, Tunisia - Senegal 21:26. But then again, Senegal beat Tunisia 2 years ago as well in the semis before being disqualified for using an ineligible player, a fact which was conveniently revealed only after the semis.

Can Senegal participate in WC ?
Thought they get 4 years disqualification?

[Wbk]

Algeria's win vs. Cote d'Ivoire was a little surprising, considering the CIV were used to participating at WCh.
Second surprising result came today, Tunisia - Senegal 21:26. But then again, Senegal beat Tunisia 2 years ago as well in the semis before being disqualified for using an ineligible player, a fact which was conveniently revealed only after the semis.

Can Senegal participate in WC ?
Thought they get 4 years disqualification?

They can, as they were never really suspended for 4 years in that 'Doungou Camara case' from the 2016 African Champs.

http://apanews.net/fr/news/handball-fre ... du-senegal

The initial information (e.g. here) was false.

[Wbk]

Results of 3 Dec 2018:

A TUNISIA 21-26 (12-13) SENEGAL
A CAMEROON 32-18 (12-8) ALGERIA

B MOROCCO 23-35 (9-20) D.R. CONGO
B CONGO 37-20 (16-12) GUINEA

[mikh]

Results of Dec 4:

Group A
Cameroon - Ivory Coast 34:25
Algeria - Tunisia 24:24 Tunisia in some trouble now

Group B
Morocco - Angola 14:50 (this was the score, not the time when the match started )
Congo - Congo DR 29:29

[mikh]

Day 4

Group A
Senegal - Algeria 35:22
Senegal is now sure of winning their group and most likely avoiding Angola all the way to the final. They shouldn't have any trouble in the QF where they will face the winner of Morocco-Guinea (to be played next) and stand a very good chance to be in the WCh now!
Ivory Coast - Tunisia 28:35

Group B
Guinea - Morocco 42:22
Congo DR - Angola 24:33

Ivory Coast and Morocco are out, rest of the teams go to the QF.

[mikh]

Day 5

Group A
Ivory Coast - Senegal 22:32 (it was a dead rubber, both teams being sure of finishing last and first, respectively)
It is indeed really strange how the Ivory Coast, which also took part in the Round of 16 in several WCh has gone so low. And look at Tunisia too, once their Chebbah-Toumi-Khouildi generation has set, they seem to be in deep trouble. On the other hand, Senegal is on the rise and I'm really curious to see them during the WCh next year.

Cameroon - Tunisia 25:25
Cameroon had the last attack which the missed following a TF. Tunisia had 8s on the clock, went up on a second wave and missed a pretty clear shot to win it. Tunisia finishes 3rd, which ironically isn't the worse position, as both DRC and CON were pretty equal and allows them to avoid Angola in the semis if they get there.

Group B
Congo DR - Guinea 35:18
Unless Congo has a real meltdown vs. Angola, they will finish 2nd, which means DR Congo could meet Angola again in the semis. Guinea to play Senegal in the QF.

Angola - Congo 32:19, meaning that for 3 goals Congo loses the 2nd spot and if they get to the semis, they'll cross Angola again.

[Joana]

Ivory Coast already out? They used to be one of the best African teams a while ago.

African handball is so volatile. It seems like one year you're on top, the next time you're not even playing. It's almost fascinating in a way.

[mikh]

Quarter finals

Senegal - Guinea 23:16
Less impressive than the previous matches. A lot of jitter in attack and in general a lack of rhythm. Most important matches to follow for them and 1 victory is all it separates them from the place at the WCh.
DR Congo - Tunisia 37:30

Angola - Algeria 41:17
Cameroon - Congo 22:21 Very nice atmosphere! Full house to support the local team.

[mikh]

Semifinals - Dec 10

Senegal - DR Congo 22:21
Mad game, with Senegal flying to a 9:5 lead, but then the DRC catching up and always staying behind at -1, -2 goals. They had multiple opportunities to tie the game, especially in the end, but they always fumbled the last pass or took poor shots at the Senegalese gk. Mwasesa was great in keeping the DRC in it for 60 mins. Senegal seemed pretty stressed, including their bench and certainly didn't show their best. There was sheer joy for the players and the staff at the end, you could see how hard they've been waiting for this first time qualification to a WCh!

Cameroon - Angola 16:25

[Wbk]

Ivory Coast already out? They used to be one of the best African teams a while ago.

They did, indeed. Their former very important leaders Gondo Bredou and Elodie Mambo are gone, they don't have that perspective youth nowadays, only few players play in Europe, and dominantly in lower level leagues. Moreover, a significant internal crisis hit Ivorian handball in 2013-2014 (see, e.g. [1], [2], [3]), because of which women's NT didn't compete at Africa Champs in 2014, being inactive for more than three years (between the early 2012 and spring 2015) in aggregate. All in all, their marked regress is absolutely logical.

[mikh]

Senegal and Angola have already secured their places to the WCh next year and they will meet in the final which will decide the African qualifier for the Olympics! Both teams are sure of playing at least the OQT.

In the bronze final, Cameroon - DR Congo, with the winner getting the final WCh spot.

[Wbk]

Results of Dec 11:

Match for the 7th place
GUINEA 34-22 (18-10) ALGERIA

Match for the 5th place
CONGO 31-23 (13-13) TUNISIA

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Bronze medal match
DR CONGO 33-22 (16-10) CAMEROON

Deserved bronze and WCh for the Mwasesa and co., according to not only this result, but the whole tournament performances.

[mikh]

Achhh! You were faster than me! I was getting ready to post exactly the same things, including the remark about Mwasesa. She is an exciting player and it's great to see her again at a WCh! The only thing I regret is not seeing the cool Cameroonian coach again

Big final next and the winner goes to Tokyo 2020!

[Lucy]

Stream?

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Final
ANGOLA 19-14 (7-10) SENEGAL

There was a shocker start to the game, when Senegalese were leading 1:9 after 15 minutes (!). But the rest was as planned.

[Wbk]

All-stars team:

GK: Hatadou Sako (SEN)
LB: Christiane Mwasesa (COD)
CB: Isabel Guialo (ANG)
RB: Azenaide Carlos (ANG)
LW: Awa Fall Diop (SEN)
RW: Amal Hamrouni (TUN)
PV: Albertina Kassoma (ANG)

Topscorer: ?

MVP: Albertina Kassoma (ANG)

[Wbk]

The next editions of the women's African Champs:

2020 in Cameroon (Yaoundé); w/ higher number of 12 or 14 participating teams expected

2022 in Senegal

2024 in Cape Verde

[Silviu]

All-stars team:
Topscorer: ?

Christiane Mwasesa, 63 goals (Source).