All Africa Senior Team Championships 2026
Semi-Finals | Royal Aria Gymnasium – Gaborone, Botswana
Semi-final day at the Royal Aria Gymnasium was about composure.
The matches were no longer just about skill. They were about control under pressure, about staying calm when the scoreboard tightened, and about teams proving they were ready for the final stage.
By the end of the day, four teams had earned their place in the finals, each in a different way.
Mauritius Survive Zambia’s Fight in Men’s Thriller
On Court 1, Zambia and Mauritius produced one of the most dramatic ties of the championship. Mauritius edged the contest 3–2, but every match carried weight.
Kalombo Mulenga gave Zambia an early advantage, defeating Lucas Douce 21–19, 11–21, 22–20 in a high-level opening singles. The third game was played point by point, neither player willing to give space.
Mauritius responded through Georges Julien Paul and Khemtish Rai Nundah, who both delivered composed performances to take control of the tie.
Zambia answered again in the first doubles, where the Mulenga brothers combined power and emotion to level the score at 2–2.
The deciding match tested nerves. Jean Bernard Bongout and Khemtish Rai Nundah of Mauritius remained aggressive and disciplined, winning in straight games to secure a place in the final.
Interview – Khemtish Rai Nundah (Mauritius)
“This was not just a match. It felt like a final already. Zambia believed strongly, especially after they made it 2–2.
Before the last doubles, we reminded ourselves that pressure is normal in semi-finals. The team stayed calm around us. That helped.
We wanted to start fast and not allow long rallies. Once we found our rhythm, we kept pushing. Reaching the final means a lot to us. Now we want to finish the job.”
For Zambia, the loss was painful, but their spirit throughout the tournament earned respect across the arena.”
Algeria Overcome Egypt with Authority
On Court 4, Algeria delivered a strong and controlled 3–1 victory over Egypt to book their place in the men’s final.
Adel Hamek set the tone with a confident straight-game win in the opening singles. Egypt responded in the second match, where Ezzat Kareem edged Mohamed Belarbi in two tight games, including a 23–21 second game that kept the tie alive.
But Algeria regained momentum quickly.
Koceila Mammeri dominated the third singles with sharp attacking play and steady control. In the doubles, Mohamed Belarbi and Youcef Medel closed the contest with a composed 21–18, 21–15 victory.
Algeria looked structured, focused, and experienced. They handled key moments better and did not allow the tie to drift.
Their reward is a place in the final.
Egypt Women Show Control Against Nigeria
In the women’s semi-final on Court 3, Egypt defeated Nigeria 3–0 with disciplined and confident performances.
Nour Ahmed Youssri opened strongly, Doha Hany showed resilience in a three-game contest, and Fatema Rabie secured the tie after a competitive battle.
The scoreline was clear, but the matches required concentration and patience.
Interview – Doha Hany (Egypt)
“Nigeria pushed us in every match. Even when you win in straight games, you still feel the pressure.
In the semi-finals, the difference is mental strength. We focused on our system and communication. When the rallies became long, we stayed patient.
Now we are in the final, but the work is not done. We want to play our best badminton this afternoon.”
South Africa End Algeria’s Women’s Campaign
South Africa completed the women’s final line-up with a 3–0 victory over Algeria.
Johanita Scholtz led from the front with a sharp and confident opening singles win. Elme de Villiers and Amy Ackerman followed with composed performances to close the tie.
South Africa looked balanced and experienced — calm in key moments and efficient in execution.
One Step Away
As the semi-finals concluded in Gaborone, the Royal Aria Gymnasium carried a mix of celebration and reflection.
Mauritius and Algeria will contest the men’s final.
Egypt and South Africa will battle for the women’s title.
One last step remains in Botswana.
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