Qualified in extremis for the 2023 Handball World Cup, the Algerian team failed to transcend during this international meeting.
Indeed, following their qualification obtained during the last match of the African Cup, the Greens won the last African ticket for the 2023 Handball World Cup organized in Poland and Sweden.
Nevertheless, the men of the Algerian coach, Rabah Gharbi, lived through a nightmarish episode to say the least. Sharing group E with Germany, Serbia and Qatar, the Algerian handball selection failed to win any victory in this first round.
Four groups down, four to go: the countdown to #POLSWE2023 continue with group E ? This week we get to know ?? Algeria, ?? Germany, ?? Qatar and ?? Serbia ??
Read our breakdown of group E ➡️ https://t.co/NaeFvZ1yVs#sticktogether pic.twitter.com/XqXGJNzK8U
— International Handball Federation (@ihf_info) December 12, 2022
Inaugurating the competition against the Serbian team, the Fennecs were quickly overtaken by a harsh reality. This first match ended in the defeat of the Algerians with a score of 36-27.
The second match of the national handball team in the 2023 World Cup was against the selection of Qatar. More enterprising, the Greens narrowly separated from their opponent during the first period. A gap that was widened in the second half and the match ended with a score of 29-24 for the Qataris.
Facing the German ogre in the third match, the Algerian handball team could not compete and the match quickly took a disenchanting turn for Mokhtar Kouri’s teammates. A match that ended in victory for the Germans with the final score of 21-37.
World Handball 2023: the ordeal continues for the Algerian selection!
Relegated to the elimination phase, the Algerian handball team faced the team from North Macedonia to grab higher places in the standings.
However, not derogating from the unfortunate trend, Algeria did not do better than another defeat with a score of 25-40. Despite this latest setback, the adventure of coach Rabah Gharbi’s players continued with 3 other matches.
Thus, against Tunisia and Morocco, two other defeats followed. A balance sheet has been forgotten for the Algerian selection which, for the last match of the competition, had the opportunity not to appear on the last step of the general classification of the World Handball Championship.
? World Championship #POLSWE2023
?? Tunisia 30 – 25 Algeria ?? (15-12)
Assil Namli Men of the Match #Tunisia #Handball #Team pic.twitter.com/seYSSD5EBN— FTHB (@FTHB_TN) January 23, 2023
World Handball 2023: Algeria saves its participation, a last satisfaction?
It was time for pride for the Algerians against the Uruguay team for the last general classification match of the 2023 Handball World Championship in Poland and Sweden.
Playing a symbolic match to avoid being the red lantern of the world, Algeria has FINALLY won a first victory.
World Senior Men’s Handball, Poland – Sweden 2023
Africa Stocktaking
7th: Egypt ??
23rd: Cape Verde ??
25th: Tunisia ??
30th: Morocco ??
31st: Algeria ??@ihf_info#POLSWE2023 pic.twitter.com/jv8pdrLwW3— African Handball Confederation (@DeConfederation) January 31, 2023
Facing a well-organized team that took advantage of the shortcomings of the Algerians, the Greens cheated in the last seconds of the game. While they were ahead on the scoreboard one minute from the end, the Fennecs lost their advantage.
Control of the match seemed to be lost, however, it was without counting on the individual rush of Zohir Naïm which allowed his teammates to clinch a much desired victory 8 seconds from the end of the match. 33-34 for Algeria after an incredible match.
As a reminder, the Danish team won the world title after their victory in the final against France, 29-34.
The 2023 world champions: ?? Denmark#POLSWE2023 #sticktogether pic.twitter.com/7mekPF5PtP
— International Handball Federation (@ihf_info) January 29, 2023
