Egypt’s Reign Continues at 23rd African Fencing Championships
African Championships
In photo:
Photo by Oluwaseyi #bizziteam / FIE
Egypt extended its reign at the 23rd African Fencing Championships, sweeping all three gold medals in the team events on Saturday at Charterhouse Lagos.
In a high-stakes final, Egypt edged Tunisia 45–41 to claim the Men’s Team Sabre title. The Egyptian squad—Ziad Elsissy, Adham Moataz, Mohamed Amer, and Ahmed Hesham—faced a formidable Tunisian team led by Fares Ferjani, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist, alongside Lucas Messica, Maurice Andre, Mohamed Aziz Cherni, and Ahmed Ferjani.
Egypt took an early lead, but Tunisia fought back valiantly, narrowing the gap. However, Ahmed Hesham, the reigning 2025 African Champion, delivered a decisive performance to seal the win.
In the semifinals, Egypt defeated Niger Republic 45–23, while Tunisia overcame Algeria 45–21. Algeria secured bronze with a 45–27 victory over Niger Republic.
Egypt also defended their Women’s Team Sabre crown, overcoming a spirited challenge from Tunisia to win 45–39. The Egyptian team featured 2025 Women’s Foil Champion Sara Amr, Jana Ehab, Noha Hany, and Malak Hamza. Tunisia’s lineup included Nourane B’chir, Yasmine Ayari, and Yasmine Soussi.
Egypt maintained a steady lead throughout the match, withstanding a late push from Tunisia to retain the title they won in Morocco in 2024. Algeria claimed bronze, having lost to Tunisia 14–45 in the semifinals.
In the Men’s Team Épée final, Egypt delivered a dominant 45–26 victory over South Africa, replicating their 2024 success. The Egyptian team was led by World No. 1 Mohamed Elsayed and World Junior No. 1 Mahmoud Elsayed, alongside Mohamed Yasseen and Mahmoud Mohsen.
South Africa, captained by Sergey Losevskiy and supported by Rahul Van Manen and Stembele Phakisi, struggled to match Egypt’s pace and precision.
Algeria secured the bronze medal with a 45–30 win over Angola.
These victories further solidify Egypt’s status as a powerhouse in African fencing, showcasing a blend of elite experience and emerging talent across all disciplines.
The tournament ends on Sunday, June 29, with teams battling for the remaining three events – men’s foil and women’s epee and sabre.
