Petro Atlético of Angola secured their 12th African Women’s Handball Club Championship title by defeating AS Otoho of the Republic of the Congo 32-27 in the final held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The victory in the tournament, which concluded on April 14.
Dominance in the Continental Arena
The tournament featured six teams from five nations divided into two groups. Petro Atlético demonstrated their superiority early, finishing at the top of Group B. Their campaign began with a decisive 49-10 victory over HBC Kali and continued with a 34-23 win against Heritage.
In the semifinals, Petro Atlético maintained their momentum by defeating FAP Yaoundé 35-16. This win marked the team’s third double-digit margin of victory during the competition, underscoring their status as the tournament favorites.
The Final Showdown
In the championship match, Petro Atlético faced AS Otoho, who had reached the final for the first time in club history after defeating Heritage 29-23 in the semifinals.
Petro Atlético established an early 7-2 lead, though AS Otoho narrowed the gap as the match progressed. Despite the pressure, the Angolan side entered halftime with a 17-14 advantage. In the second half, Vilma Pegado Nenganga spearheaded the offense, finishing the match with 11 goals. Petro Atlético successfully protected their lead to finalize the 32-27 scoreline.
Tournament Standings and Individual Honors
The bronze medal was awarded to Heritage, who secured a narrow 25-24 victory over FAP Yaoundé in the third-place match.
Individual performances were highlighted by the tournament’s top scorers:
- Christianne Mwasesa Mwange (Heritage): 34 goals (Top Scorer)
- Vilma Pegado Nenganga (Petro Atlético): 31 goals
- Imaculada Tito Matos (Petro Atlético): 30 goals
The event, officially recognized as the 42nd African Women’s Handball Club Championship, with Angolan teams historically maintaining a strong presence at the top of the podium.