For most of the semi-final, Algeria and Ghana were separated by little more than a few points. On Court 1 at the Cairo Stadium, the two teams kept pulling the momentum in different directions, with neither side able to settle into complete control. By the time the deciding sequence arrived, the difference between them had become almost impossible to separate.
O Keddou gave Algeria the opening advantage in men’s singles, defeating O Adu-Mintah 11–8. C Halimi and R Salem then extended that lead in women’s doubles, reaching 22 points against M Adu and R Quarcoo. Ghana responded immediately through M Adu in women’s singles, bringing the score to 33–31, but Algeria regained control through O Keddou and C Halimi in mixed doubles before A Daoud and O Keddou completed the first sequence at 55–46.
Ghana had no intention of allowing the match to run away from them. The second sequence told a different story. F Obeng-Shang reduced the gap in men’s singles, before M Adu and R Quarcoo levelled the pressure in women’s doubles. R Quarcoo then put Ghana ahead in women’s singles, and the Ghanaian pairings continued to build on that momentum. By the end of the second sequence, Ghana had reached 55 points while Algeria had 48.
The semi-final had been reset.
Neither team could afford to think too far ahead. The third sequence brought the players back to the court once again, and Algeria immediately began rebuilding its advantage. O Keddou took the first men’s singles match 11–6 against O Adu-Mintah, while C Halimi and R Salem followed with a 22–14 advantage in women’s doubles. Halimi then added another important contribution in women’s singles, moving Algeria to 33 points against Ghana’s 21.
But Ghana were still within reach.
The mixed doubles encounter between O Keddou and C Halimi and O Adu-Mintah and M Adu brought Algeria to 44–33, leaving the entire semi-final resting on the final match. A Daoud and O Keddou returned for Algeria against O Adu-Mintah and F Obeng-Shang, and Ghana refused to surrender quietly. The final score reached 55–54.
One point.
That was the distance between Algeria and Ghana at the end of a semi-final that had repeatedly changed direction.
For the young players, the experience was about more than reaching the end of a long sequence of matches. They had spent the semi-final adapting to different partners, changing disciplines and responding whenever the other team began to build momentum. O Keddou was repeatedly called upon for Algeria, while C Halimi also carried responsibility across singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Ghana relied on O Adu-Mintah, M Adu, R Quarcoo and F Obeng-Shang to keep their challenge alive.
The final point did not erase everything that came before it. It was the product of every rally, every recovery and every decision made during a demanding Team Relay.
In Cairo, Algeria had been pushed all the way. Ghana had made them work for every step. And when the semi-final finally came down to its last point, there was almost nothing between the two teams.
