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31 August 2026 at 19:00
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Egypt beat Greece 31–29 to win the men's handball gold medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games in Fasano. Greece claimed historic silver.

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Egypt 31–29 Greece: Pharaohs win gold in Mediterranean Games thriller

Egypt held off a determined Greece side to claim the men's handball gold medal at the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, winning 31–29 in a tightly contested final at the Palazzetto dello Sport in Fasano on 31 August.

The victory gave Egypt its first Mediterranean Games handball gold since the tournament returned to the programme, capping an unbeaten campaign that included group-stage wins over Italy (25–22) on home soil and a semi-final victory against Algeria (27–25). For Greece, the silver medal was historic — the nation's first-ever handball medal at the Mediterranean Games.

How it unfolded

The final was a two-goal game throughout, with neither side able to build a commanding lead. Egypt's fast-break transitions and composure in the closing stages proved decisive. The Pharaohs, who had beaten Greece 34–12 in a separate MHC championship earlier in the year, faced a far more competitive Greek side this time around.

Greece arrived in the final after making history of their own: a 32–30 semi-final win over Portugal secured the country's first Mediterranean Games handball medal. Coach Giorgos Zaravinas' side started strongly, matching Egypt goal for goal in the opening exchanges.

The turning point

With the score locked in a one-goal game entering the final ten minutes, Egypt's goalkeeper made a string of critical saves to preserve the lead. Greece were forced into rushed attempts from distance as the clock ticked down, and Egypt capitalised on the resulting transition opportunities to stretch the margin to three goals — enough to withstand a late Greek rally in the final minute.

Key performers

Egypt's attack was balanced, spreading the scoring load across multiple players. The Pharaohs' defence, anchored by their last line, held firm when it mattered most, particularly in the final quarter. No official individual scorer data was published for this fixture at the time of writing.

For Greece, the tournament represented a breakthrough. After a 32–30 semi-final win over Portugal, they proved they could compete with Africa's top handball nation on the biggest stage.

By the numbers — interpreted

The 31–29 scoreline reflects a high-scoring, evenly contested final. A combined 60 goals suggests both offences operated efficiently, with neither defence able to dominate. The two-goal margin — the same as Egypt's semi-final against Algeria (27–25) — underlines the pattern of Egypt winning tight games through late composure rather than outright dominance.

What it means

Egypt's gold medal continues their strong form in international handball and adds a multi-sport event title to their résumé. The Pharaohs return to competitive action in future IHF World Championship qualifiers.

Greece's silver medal represents the best-ever result for Greek men's handball at the Mediterranean Games — a significant milestone for a programme that has steadily developed in recent years. The Greeks will aim to build on this momentum in European Championship qualification.

Verdict

A final that lived up to its billing: close, high-quality, and decided by fine margins. Egypt's experience in tight knockout matches proved the difference, but Greece leave Taranto as genuine medallists for the first time — a result that signals the growing depth of Mediterranean handball.

Rivalry since 2013

Egypt vs Greece Head to Head Results· 1

Egypt and Greece have met 1 times — Egypt won 1, Greece won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2013. Egypt leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 42 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 42.00 per match (26 for the home side, 16 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 1 match (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 16–26 in 2013.

1
wins
Drawn
0
·
0
wins
Total goals
42 · 42.0/match
Both scored
1/1 · 100%
Over 2.5
1/1 · 100%

Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

API data: 31 Aug 2026