Reuters ALGIERS: Algeria suffered a painful 29-21 defeat in the men s handball final at the All Africa Games when Egypt snatched a gold from under their noses before a roaring home crowd in an overflowing Ain Taya Coupole court in the capital on Saturday. Egyptian goalkeeper Bakir Nakib frustrated an Algerian offensive spearheaded by Paris-based professional Tahur Labane almost single-handedly. The winners marksman, Ahmed Elahner, was at his vintage best, deftly weaving his way through a tightly-marking Algerian defence to the huge disappointment of the spectators. On Saturday Egypt was leading with 60 gold medals as well as 52 silver and 47 bronze, ahead of the host nation Algeria s 57 golds. Algeria, which has also won 48 silver and 61 bronze medals, has been desperate to deliver the ultimate prize and justify the heavy burden of hosting the games. It cost 1 billion Algerian Dinars ($14.46 million) to renovate 40 sports venues in the four cities of Algiers, Blida, Boumerdes and Tipaza. The men s handball final between Egypt and Algeria on Saturday was a must-win for the two nations, who took most of their medals in judo, kick-boxing, weightlifting and karate. Earlier, Angola beat Congo 35-22 to win the women s handball gold medal at the same venue, their third gold of the Games. Ivory Coast took the bronze. On the track, Ethiopia s Tufa Mestawet destroyed Kenya s twin-pronged offensive to ensure the All Africa Games women s 10,000 m title remained in their grip on the fourth day of the athletics program. Tufa mounted a solo run after her team mates dropped back to outwit Kenya s former three-time world cross country champion Edith Masai and Irene Kwambai. With two laps remaining, Tufa upped the tempo and she picked up the gold in 31:26.05. Masai took silver in 31:31.18 and Kwambai bronze in 31:36.78. South Africans swept all the medals in the men s 400 m hurdles, with Louis van Zyl winning in 48.74 seconds. Pieter de Villiers in second and Alwin Myburgh third. Elizna Naude added to South Africa s tally with a 58.40 m victory in the women s discus and C. Harmse won the hammer with a 76.73 m throw. Tunisia s Abderrahmane Tamada took the men s pole vault gold with a clearance of 5.10 m while Ghana s Margaret Simpson ruled in the long jump. In Blida, 50 km south of the capital, Tunisia stormed into the men s volleyball final after sending Kenya packing 3-1 in the semi-final. Algerian women also reached the final after beating Kenya 3-0 in the semi-final. They face Cameroon who beat Seychelles 3-0.
