Japan ended their Germany/Netherlands 2025 campaign on a high with a decisive final push, securing a 27:23 win and remaining unbeaten in the main round on the last day of competition for them.

Main Round, Group I
Senegal vs Japan 23:27 (13:11)

Japan opened the game on the right foot, but after an early 3:2 lead, the momentum shifted to Senegal's side. Through Raissa Dapina, Senegal grabbed their first lead at 4:3, and Japan tried to respond with a deep defensive approach and marking, but it only kept them afloat for a few more minutes.

By the 17th minute, Senegal finally stretched it to +2, capitalising on Japan's turnovers and misses. With Justicia Toubissa Elbeco operating at nearly a 50% save rate, Japan had no real chance to catch up. Ten minutes later, the scoreboard showed a three-goal gap, 11:8, as Japan kept switching defensive schemes in an attempt to force Senegal into errors.

But whenever Senegal's attack stalled and Japan seemed ready to threaten, Toubissa Elbeco shut the door with another save and kept her team in control. Only in the closing minutes of the first half did the momentum finally shift, when Japan managed to trim the deficit down to just two.

The first 15 minutes of the second half delivered excitement and trading leads. Japan struck immediately, levelling the score at 13:13 through Natsuki Aizawa just two minutes after the restart. Then a wave of mistakes on both ends kept the nets intact for a while.

Japan finally broke through with the help of Naoko Sahara and moved ahead 14:13, their first lead since that opening 3:2. In the following minutes, they even stretched it to +2, hinting they might be the ones taking control. But a Senegal time-out changed the energy completely, with coach Yacine Messaoudi urging his team to slow things down.

By the 44th minute, Senegal were back level thanks to Dapina and Hawa Ramatou Ndiaye, who combined for nine goals and just moments later created a new narrow gap (18:17). However, a new stretch of mistakes and poor execution soon pushed Senegal back again as Japan took over at 22:20.

With two key saves by Sakura Kametani, the 2024 AHF Asian Women's Handball Championship winners secured a decisive four-goal lead with just three minutes to go and ultimately won 27:23.

Japan ended their Germany/Netherlands 2025 campaign on a high, with five points in the main round and without a match lost. Senegal, winless in the main round, now face the possibility of finishing below 18th place, the rank they held in the previous two editions.

hummel Player of the Match: Justicia Toubissa Elbeco (Senegal)