Hosts Uganda reached the final of badminton’s All Africa Women’s Team Championship for the first time in Kampala, where they will face defending champions Egypt for a place in the Uber Cup.
Three teams finished on four points in Group B, with 2020 runners-up Algeria missing out on a place in the semi-finals despite a 3-2 win against Egypt at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
With Algeria leading 3-1, the Egyptians required Nour Ahmed Youssri and Doha Hany to come from behind to triumph 16-21, 21-18, 21-17 in their doubles match against Mounib Celia and Tanina Violette Mammeri to salvage their place in the competition.
Uganda topped the group by inflicting a third straight 5-0 defeat on Zimbabwe.
All three teams in Group A finished on two points with one win apiece.
The 2020 bronze medallists Mauritius topped the group, but a 3-2 defeat versus South Africa in the final group match today sent their opponents through in second.
The semi-finals were staged later in the day, with both Egypt and Uganda clinching impressive 3-0 victories.
Nour Ahmed, Hana Tarek Zaher and Jana Hesham Mohamed Abdelkader won their singles matches against Kobita Dookhee, Vilina Appiah and Tiya Bhurtun, respectively, to help Egypt see off Mauritius.
Uganda’s Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi, Tracy Naluwooza and Husina Kobugabe all triumphed in straight games against South Africa’s Deidre Laurens Jordaan, Diane Olivier and Amy Ackerman.
Egypt and Uganda are due to face off for Africa’s Uber Cup berth in tomorrow’s final.
In the All Africa Men’s Team Championship in Kampala, the 2020 runners-up Mauritius set up a repeat of the final from two years ago against Algeria in the last four of the competition.
Holders Algeria and 2020 bronze medallists Egypt advanced to the semi-finals after topping Groups B and C, while Group A winners Mauritius faced a quarter-final against Réunion.
In a close contest, Melvin Appiah and Aatish Lubah won the decisive doubles match for Mauritius against Gregory Grondin and Nanicaoudin Loic Antoine to help them progress 3-2.
In the other quarter-final, Zambia led South Africa when Kalombo Mulenga beat Ruan Snyman, but it was their opponents who came back to win 3-1 and book a semi-final against Egypt.
Both tournaments are set to conclude tomorrow.
All the best to the cranes