Barça Breaks Barriers: Barcelona Shuts Down Ahly to Reach the Handball World Club Final

Barcelona's Road to the Final

Barcelona downed Al Ahly 26-21 in the World Men's Handball Club Championship semi-final in Egypt 2025, ending Ahly's bid for a first final appearance. The match, staged Tuesday night at the New Administrative Capital arena, saw Barça impose a disciplined defensive and attacking rhythm from the opening whistle. The Catalans held a clear edge at halftime, leading 14-8 thanks to a standout performance by their goalkeeper and a precise, relentless backcourt.

Al Ahly, coached by Spanish tactician David Davies, pushed to close the gap in the second half, relying on Mohsen Ramadan’s drives, Saif Hani’s creativity, and the experience of Ibrahim El-Masri. Yet gaps in execution and the formidable Barça defense kept the Egyptian side from mounting a decisive comeback. In the end, Ahly bowed out by five goals to the most decorated team in the tournament's history.

Barcelona's Title Quest and Ahly's Bronze Test

With this victory, Barcelona secured their eighth final appearance, setting up a showdown with VEZSprém (Veszprém) in the other semi, where the Hungarian side toppled Magdeburg 23-20. The Catalans are chasing a sixth title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Meanwhile, Ahly will take on Magdeburg for bronze. The Egyptians will look to repeat last year’s podium finish, a landmark moment that would mark a historic achievement for Arab and African handball. Magdeburg, a club with a storied record in the competition (three consecutive titles in 2021, 2022, 2023), poses a formidable obstacle as Ahly attempts to secure a spot on the podium again.

Context, History, and a Look Forward

Ahly's campaign began with a dominant 41-14 victory over Sydney University, with Abdelrahman Taha shining in goal and Ramadan contributing nine goals. They then faced a tough test against VEZSprém and lost 31-22, yet advanced to the knockout rounds thanks to goal difference over Zamalek and Sharjah. The club’s participation comes as the African Super Cup champions, and their history in the tournament includes a second-place finish in 2014 and a bronze in 2024 after a memorable win over Barcelona, underscoring their status as a rising power in world handball.

Attendance and organization in Egypt have been widely praised, with fans filling the New Administrative Capital venue. The 2025 edition features nine clubs: Ahly, Zamalek, Barcelona, VEZSprém, Magdeburg, Sharjah, Sydney University, California Eagles, and Taubaté. The teams have been divided into three groups with the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals, highlighting the growing depth of handball beyond Europe.

Arab ambition remains a talking point, as only Al Sadd of Qatar has won the title in 2002, with various Arab clubs earning podium finishes over the years. The current crop of Egyptian players—led by stars who have shown they can compete with the sport’s elite—embodies a broader region’s rising influence on the world stage. If Ahly can replicate last year’s bronze, it would cement their place among the sport’s most respected teams.

Narrative of Egyptian talent remains a backbone of the sport in Africa and the Arab world. The current generation of Egyptians has demonstrated remarkable capability against the sport’s giants, with a promising future for both the national team and club teams on the global stage.

Looking ahead to the decisive matches now shifts to Thursday, when Barcelona will meet VEZSprém in the final, and Ahly will face Magdeburg for bronze. Egyptian fans hope their clubs can reclaim podium glory, keeping their nation at the heart of world handball’s biggest stages.

Sniper’s note: If optimism could be shot with the same precision as Barça’s counter-attacks, we'd all be Olympic archers. And if humor could score goals, I’d retire with a hat-trick—but alas, I still have paperwork to file with the goalkeeper’s union.