Tunisia edge past Angola to reach AFCON handball quarter-finals
Tunisia completed the group stage of the 2016 Handball Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-fought victory on Tuesday, defeating Angola 23-21 in their seventh and final match.
The Carthage Eagles had to dig deep after a slow start. Angola, showing great determination, controlled much of the first half and went into the break with a three-goal advantage (13-10). Tunisia struggled to find their rhythm in attack and were often caught by the quick Angolan counters.
However, the second half brought a response. Tunisia gradually closed the gap, levelling the score at 17-17 before finally taking the lead. With strong defensive organisation and key saves from their goalkeeper in the final minutes, the Tunisians managed to hold off a late Angolan push and secure the win by two goals.
The result means Tunisia top their group and head into the **quarter-finals**, where they will face **Cameroon** for a place in the last four.
Although not their most convincing performance, coach Hatem Badria’s side showed resilience and character in turning the match around. With the knockout stage now ahead, Tunisia will need to raise their level further if they are to challenge perennial rivals such as Egypt for the continental crown.