She lost the semi-finals to France 23-27
An honorable Egyptian performance in handball... and an eye on the "bronze"
The stars of Egypt are sad about the loss of the opportunity to secure a handball medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
Reuters
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Egypt made an honorable performance in the first half, but lost to six-times world champion France 23-27 in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Thursday, and will play the bronze medal match with the loser between world champion Denmark and Spain.
Egypt was the first African and Arab team to compete in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games, and it stood against France in the first half (13-13), but the 2008, 2012 and 2016 runners-up made a comfortable goal difference in the second, and goalkeeper Vincent Gerard shone, reaching the final for the fourth time in a row.
This is the second time that Egypt has lost in the round of four of a major tournament after the 2001 World Cup, when it was defeated by France in particular 21-24, before finishing it in fourth place.
Egypt made a strong start, thanks to a solid defense and the ingenuity of goalkeeper Karim Hendawy, advancing 4-1 through Mohamed Sanad and Hashem Mamdouh from depth (2), Yahya Al Deraa and Ahmed Hisham "Dodo" above all.
But France reduced the difference to 5-4, through Ugo Desca, Luc Abalo and Decca Mim.
Veteran Ahmed Al-Ahmar stopped the bleeding from the penalty spot, and Yahya Khaled entered the score line (7-4), but the French star Nikola Karabatic reduced the difference, then Al-Ahmar missed a penalty kick, and goalkeeper Vincent Gerard blocked a strong ball for the shield.
And Nadim Ramili scored for the first time 7-7, but the bulldozer Hisham Mamdouh kept knocking on the door of the region, and he got a penalty kick, which was wasted this time by the support of the French star Nimes in the middle of the first half.
Diska gave France the lead 8-7 for the first time from the penalty spot, but Ali Zain, who moved to Barcelona, fired two long-range shots 9-9, then Al-Ahmar tackled the French net with a goal of 10-9.
The result remained close, and the first half ended 13-13, after Egyptian goals for the 37-year-old Al-Ahmar (2), who carried the team on his shoulders, and the substitute Omar Al-Wakeel.
In the second, it was a slow start for the Egyptians, so Yahya Khaled reduced the difference twice to 16-17, and Adel Omar Al-Wakeel from a narrow angle 17-17, but the French maintained their lead 19-18, and the shield missile crossbar stubbornly resisted.
The French benefited from their experience, especially Karabatic (37 years), and raised the difference to three goals for the first time 16 minutes before the end of time (21-18).
Ali Zain scored a beautiful goal with a solo effort from a narrow angle in the brilliant goal of Gerard (21-19), before Hindawi stumbled against Nicolas Tourna, but the weakness of defensive and offensive focus brought France the three-goal difference 22-19.
The Egyptians realized the difficulty of the situation, and tried to return in the last 10 minutes before it was too late, while Yahya Khaled sought solutions (22-20).
The Egyptian risk did not pay off, so the French raised the difference to four goals, and booked the final card (27-23).
• Egypt loses for the second time against France in the round of four in a major tournament after the 2001 World Cup.
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