Egypt vs Portugal

The match decisively swung in the opening minutes of the second half. Egypt returned from the dressing room with sharper tempo and greater defensive intensity, forcing Portugal into rushed shots and turnovers. A 5-1 run inside the first seven minutes after the break pushed the lead from four to ten goals, effectively ending the contest before the midway point of the second period.

Egypt’s attacking unit was firing on all cylinders. The team’s movement in the back court created consistent openings against Portugal’s 6-0 defensive shell, and the finishing was clinical across the board — no single player dominated the scoring burden, reflecting the squad’s collective depth.

Portugal struggled to contain Egypt’s rhythm in attack and found clear chances hard to come by against an increasingly assertive Egyptian defence in the second half. The Portuguese side had no answer once the deficit ballooned, and their own offensive efficiency dropped sharply after the break (20-13 in Egypt’s favour in the second period).

Player of the match: Not officially assigned, but Egypt’s playmaker core dictated the tempo throughout.

The half-time score of 18-14 (a four-goal gap) suggested a competitive contest, but the 20-13 second half tells the real story. Egypt’s 38 goals — the tournament’s first real offensive explosion — came against a Portugal side that conceded only 27, a testament to the African champions’ firepower. The 11-goal margin is the widest of any men’s handball match on the opening matchday of the competition.

Egypt’s scoring was remarkably consistent across both periods (18 and 20), while Portugal’s output tailed off from 14 to 13 — a sign that Egypt’s defensive adjustments at half-time worked.

Egypt sit top of Group A with two points and a +11 goal difference after the opening round. The result puts them in strong position to reach the semi-finals — the top two teams in each group advance. Portugal will need to bounce back quickly.

The Mediterranean Games handball tournament features eight men’s teams split into two groups of four. Group A consists of hosts Italy, Egypt, Portugal and Kosovo. Group B features Tunisia, Algeria, Greece and Cyprus. Spain are the reigning champions, having won gold at the 2022 edition in Oran, Algeria.

Egypt’s next fixture: Kosovo on 25 August 2026. Portugal’s next fixture: Hosts Italy (date to be confirmed).

Egypt arrived in Taranto as African champions and played like a side with medal ambitions. The 11-goal victory over a Portugal team that was expected to be competitive sends a clear message to the rest of the field. If they maintain this level, a semi-final berth — and a potential podium finish — looks well within reach.