The All Africa Team Championships 2024 in Egypt reached its Day 3 with electrifying matches and unexpected turnarounds. The morning session showcased intense battles in the Men’s Team Championship, while the afternoon saw the semi-finals of the Women’s Team, setting the stage for an exciting culmination of the tournament.
Morning Session
Mauritius Finishes second in Group B
In the Men’s Team Championship Group B match, Mauritius faced South Africa at 9 am. Mauritius secured a comfortable 4-1 victory, dominating in the three singles and claiming one double. Alexandre Bongout, in a post-match interview with BCA TV, emphasized the significance of the win, stating,
“This win was extremely important for the team as it enabled us to finish second in Group B. Despite our loss on Day one to Nigeria, we have come back stronger and claimed victories against Cameroon and South Africa.”
Nigeria’s Commanding Performance by finishing first in Group B
On Court 2, Cameroon clashed with Nigeria in the Men’s Team match, where Nigeria asserted dominance with a 5-0 win. The African Champion Anu, in a post-match interview, expressed the team’s need for the victory to secure the top spot in their group, affirming their position.
“We need to respect our objectives and one of them was to finish first on our group and claim victories over all team. We are confident that we the team that we have, we can create surprise.”
Algeria Triumphs Over Egypt
Court 3 witnessed a fierce battle between Algeria and Egypt for the first spot in Group A. Algeria emerged victorious after a thrilling 3-2 tie. Adel Hamek, in a post-match interview, stated,
“We are on the right track and we really want to create history in Africa by becoming the team that won the Thomas Cup 4 times. It has not been easy as it requires a lot of consistency and training but with the help of the home team and a good cohesion, we know that we can get through this together”.
Afternoon Session
South Africa Edges Past Nigeria
The first semi-final of the Women’s Team Championships saw South Africa facing Nigeria at 14:00. In a nail-biting tie, South Africa clinched a 3-2 victory. Deidré Laurens expressed the team’s joy in advancing to the Uber Cup finals after a hard-fought battle.
“We are extremely happy to be going through the Finals after a lot of training prior to the games, we are happy that it finally paid off. Now the mission is to make sure that the color of the medal is Gold. We will be playing against Uganda, and we know that it is not an easy team, but we will do our very best to make South Africa proud and to be able to represent Africa at the forthcoming Thomas and Uber cup in China next May”.
Uganda’s Dominance Over Algeria
In the next semi-final, Uganda faced Algeria, securing a commanding 3-0 win. Husina Kobugabe, in a post-match interview, shared the team’s excitement about being one match away from the gold medal.
“We have come a really long way for this moment after a lot of hard work and efforts, now the only thing that is on our mind is the Gold medal and the Uber cup in China. We will make sure that we win it and be the first team ever from Uganda to win such a Championship”.
Thomas Cup Finals Set
The Men’s Team semi-finals unfolded with Algeria facing Mauritius, winning 3-1 in two singles and one double. The second semi-final showcased a thrilling match between Egypt and Nigeria, with Nigeria staging a comeback after losing the first two singles and winning the tie with two doubles. The unexpected turn of events set the stage for the Thomas Cup Finals between Algeria and Nigeria at 15:00 local time on Thursday, 15th February.
Day 3 of the All Africa Team Championships delivered a roller-coaster of emotions, showcasing the determination and skill of each participating team. As the tournament progresses, anticipation builds for the Uber Cup and Thomas Cup Finals, promising more thrilling badminton action. Stay tuned to BCA’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page for live coverage of the upcoming matches.
Link to detailed results is as follow: https://bwf.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=1083dba5-1209-497e-a8d4-965ecf7848c0
