For the second time in history, a Bahraini side will feature at the IHF Men’s Super Globe, as Al-Najma will return to the competition for the first time since 2018, when they ended up on the seventh place, after conceding losses against Barcelona and Tunisian side Hammamet, as their only win came against Sydney Uni, 28:26.

The Bahraini side has plenty of experience, with no less than nine players featuring for the Bahrain men’s national team at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship in their squad which won the 2023 Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship, their second title in the Asian top competition, after the one in 2017.

That performance was absolutely excellent for Al-Najma, especially after losing one match in the group phase, with a strong comeback delivered in the knockout phases, where they secured a 31:29 win over Qatari side Al-Rayyan and a 31:20 win over Qatari side Al-Duhail in the final, with an exceptional performance from Hussain Al-Sayyad, the captain of Bahrain’s men national team.

However, Al-Sayyad moved back to his Saudi club, Khaleej, as he will also feature at the IHF Men’s Super Globe, as well as another important member of the squad which won the continental title at the 2023 Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship, Vuk Lazovic, with the Serbian player also leaving a big gap behind him.

With plenty of talent on disposal, Al-Najma’s credentials will surely be tested, especially as the side will only have Bahraini players at the IHF Men’s Super Globe. A progression to the semi-finals will be borderline impossible for Al-Najma, as they face Kielce, but aiming for their best-ever finish in the competition, bettering the seventh place in 2018, could be on the cards, as Al-Najma should be favoured against the San Francisco CalHeat.

Key players: Mohamed Abdulredha (left back), Mohamed Ahmed (left back), Ali Saleh (goalkeeper)

Qualification for 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe: 2023 Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship: Winners

History in tournament: 2018: 7th

Group at 2023 IHF Men’s Super Globe: Group D (Industria Kielce, Al-Najma, San Francisco CalHeat)