Hosts North Macedonia secured a place among the top 16 teams at the 2024 IHF Women's Junior World Championship, as they proved too strong for the African champions Angola, with a 28:24 win. 

GROUP H
Angola vs North Macedonia 24:28 (11:13)

It was a do-or-die match for both teams, which were level on two points after the first two matches. The winner would secure a main round spot, and Angola actually had a slightly easier task, as even a draw would have sent them through thanks to a better goal difference.

A tight game was expected, and in the opening 15 minutes, none of the sides managed to pull ahead by more than one goal. Both teams were nervous and missed quite a lot of chances, also because goalkeepers Carla Mulamba and Matea Churlinovska did a good job for their sides.

But then North Macedonia, supported by their home crowd, enjoyed a 4:0 run to take a 10:7 lead. Back court players Borjana Koceva and Sara Stefanovska were leading by example, just as left wing Emilijana Rizoska, but Angola did not give up and the African champions slightly cut the deficit by half-time, 13:11 and were looking to hit back after the break.

The beginning of the second half looked rather optimistic for Angola, as Lurdes Pedro scored before Mulamba saved a 7m shot from Stefanovska. But then a string of goals from left back Iva Mladenovska, the most experienced player in the European side's roster, lifted the hosts to a 6:0 run, and their 19:12 lead in the 42nd minute already looked comfortable.

Angola's Bernadeth Belo showed her leadership qualities once again, scoring 11 goals – just as many as the day before against the United States of America, jumping to the third place in the top goal scorer standings. But her effort was not enough to turn things around against North Macedonia, who were better as a team and only relaxed their approach in the closing minutes.

The hosts clinched their second win in the group and progressed to the main round, where they are due to face Portugal and Montenegro, while Angola will go to the President's Cup. 

Alkaloid Player of the Match: Sara Stefanoska (North Macedonia)