Ferencvaros were crowned champions of the 2026 Black Sea Cup after defeating Pro Recco 18–15 in an entertaining final in Batumi, Georgia, on Sunday.
Balazs Nyeki’s side completed an unbeaten tournament with four victories from four matches, overcoming their Italian rivals thanks to a decisive second-quarter performance. Akos Nagy led the Hungarian champions with five goals, while Soma Vogel made ten saves.
The victory continued Ferencvaros’ impressive recent record against Pro Recco. Since Nyeki took charge in 2023, FTC have won five of their seven meetings with the Italian giants, including the two exhibition matches during their 2025 USA tour.
In the bronze-medal match, Waspo Hannover staged a late comeback against Novi Beograd before prevailing in a penalty shootout. Hosts A-Polo Sport Management secured fifth place, while Dinamo Tbilisi recorded their first victory of the tournament to finish seventh.
Ferencvaros turn the final around with five unanswered goals
Pro Recco made the stronger start to Sunday’s final, edging an entertaining opening quarter 6–5. Matteo Iocchi Gratta gave the Italians the advantage with just 30 seconds remaining in the period.
However, Ferencvaros transformed the contest in the second quarter.
Two consecutive goals from Akos Nagy sparked a remarkable five-goal scoring run, turning a 6–5 deficit into a 10–6 advantage. FTC outscored Recco 4–0 during the second period and never surrendered their lead.
Pro Recco continued to fight back, with Francesco Condemi reducing the deficit to 15–13 with just over four minutes remaining. But further goals from Nagy and Konstantinos Kakaris restored Ferencvaros’ four-goal advantage, effectively ending the Italian side’s hopes of a comeback.
Nagy finished with five goals from six attempts, while Vendel Vigvari contributed three. Marton Vamos and Stylianos Argyropoulos scored twice each, with Krisztian Manhercz providing four assists.
At the other end, Vogel produced ten saves to help secure the trophy.
Alvaro Granados was Pro Recco’s leading scorer with five goals, including two penalties, taking his tournament tally to 24. Former Ferencvaros player Gergo Zalanki added three.
The result gives Nyeki’s side another trophy against one of their biggest European rivals, following their victories over Recco in the 2024 Champions League final and 2025 European Super Cup.
Waspo Hannover snatch bronze after dramatic comeback
Waspo Hannover secured third place with a dramatic 15–13 penalty-shootout victory over Novi Beograd after the teams finished regulation tied at 11–11.
The Serbian side appeared to have control of the contest when Viktor Urosevic extended their advantage to 11–9 with 3:39 remaining.
However, Hannover refused to surrender.
Mark Gansen reduced the deficit with 2:33 left before Lazar Vukicevic completed the comeback, scoring the equaliser just 34 seconds before the final whistle.
The German side were perfect in the resulting shootout, converting all four penalties. Goalkeeper Felix Benke denied Nika Shushiashvili, while Vasilije Martinovic also missed for Novi Beograd.
Gansen converted the decisive penalty to seal the bronze medal.
Gansen and Vukicevic scored three goals each for Hannover, while Martinovic led Novi Beograd with five goals.
The Montenegrin finished the tournament with an extraordinary 29 goals, having also scored 11 in a single match against Dinamo Tbilisi during the group stage.
Hosts take fifth as Dinamo Tbilisi finish with victory
Hosts A-Polo Sport Management secured fifth place following a 16–15 penalty-shootout victory over CN Marseille.
The teams finished regulation level at 11–11 after a dramatic conclusion. Marseille appeared on course for victory when Lorris Canovas put the French side 11–10 ahead with just over two minutes remaining, but Dusan Vasic equalised with 18 seconds left.
A-Polo converted all five attempts in the shootout, while Adam Nagy’s missed penalty proved decisive for Marseille.
Filip Gardasevic led the hosts with four goals, while Canovas scored three for the French side.
In the seventh-place match, Dinamo Tbilisi defeated Japan’s Bourbon Kashiwazaki 12–10.
After three closely contested quarters, Kashiwazaki moved 9–8 ahead early in the final period through Sora Ikeda.
However, Dinamo responded with four consecutive goals, shared between Demetre Todua and Revaz Imnaishvili, to secure their first victory of the tournament.
Imnaishvili led the Georgian team with four goals and four assists. Takanori Maeno scored four for Kashiwazaki, while Japanese goalkeeper Yusuke Ogura impressed with 18 saves.
Black Sea Cup 2026 — Final standings
- Ferencvaros
- Pro Recco
- Waspo Hannover
- Novi Beograd
- A-Polo Sport Management
- CN Marseille
- Dinamo Tbilisi
- Bourbon Kashiwazaki
Final day results
Final
Pro Recco 15–18 Ferencvaros
Third-place match
Waspo Hannover 15–13 Novi Beograd (11–11, penalties 4–2)
Fifth-place match
A-Polo Sport Management 16–15 CN Marseille (11–11, penalties 5–4)
Seventh-place match
Bourbon Kashiwazaki 10–12 Dinamo Tbilisi
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