Sharjah SC began their campaign in Egypt with a convincing 35–30 win against the California Eagles in the opening fixture of the 2025 IHF Men’s Club World Championship. The match unfolded at the New Administrative Capital Sports Hall in Cairo as part of the Group A schedule. Sharjah built and maintained a lead throughout, while the Eagles pushed hard in the closing minutes but fell short.
Sharjah, the first club from the UAE to compete in this tournament, led 18–15 at half-time, with left wing Tariq Almaazmi among the steady finishers. Their Brazilian coach Marcus “Tata” Oliveira called a timeout at around the 38-minute mark when the Eagles threatened to draw level; that tactical pause paid off as Sharjah then rattled off a 4–1 run to open a five-goal margin. Mosbah Sanai, the Tunisian left back, delivered a strong performance and was named Player of the Match. The Eagles’ Zuwed Akuro impressed with ten goals, but the U. S. side could not break the Emirati defence.
The match highlighted the contrasting styles of what are, in many ways, developing programmes. Sharjah deployed a mixed roster featuring homegrown Emirati players alongside young Egyptian talent and Sanai, who brings experience at this level. The Eagles, coached by Guillermo Milano, leaned heavily on Akuro and on fast transitions. While the Americans rallied late — bringing the deficit to three goals with about three minutes left — Sharjah held firm and closed out the contest with composure.
This win is particularly significant: Sharjah qualified as Asian champions after a narrow 27–26 victory over Saudi Arabia’s Khaleej Club in the Asian Club League, securing their place in the world tournament. The IHF rebranded the Super Globe as the Men’s Club World Championship, hosting the 2025 edition from 26 September to 2 October in Egypt. Nine clubs from six confederations are competing at a single venue.
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