Algerian women's kumite team snatched the gold medal on Wednesday, the last day of karate events of the 11th All Africa Games at the sports complex of Kintele, in Congo.

The karatekas Lamia Matoub, Lydia Besbes and Saida Djedra defeated their Senegalese opponents 2-0, while the two bronze medals went to Egypt's and Nigeria's teams.

"This medal is very special as it is the first time that Algeria reaches the team kumite final of the African competition," said the national coach Maiza Fouaz.

In men's team kumite event, Algeria's Youcef Hassani, Mouad Achache, Abdelatif Benkhaled, Samy Brahimi and Walid Bouaboub lost to their Egyptian opponents (1-2) and got the silver.

"I think that our karatekas were stronger but the referees deprived them of the gold medal," deplored the national kumite coach Yacine Gouri.

The two bronze medals of the event went to Senegal's and Congo's teams.

In Karate events, Algeria has ranked first with 13 medals (6 gold and 7 silver) ahead of Egypt (6 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze), Congo (2 gold and 5 bronze), Senegal (one gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze) and Cameroon (one gold and 3 bronze).