A nine-goal performance from Nora Lueg helped Germany secure their second consecutive victory at the inaugural IHF Women’s Under-16 World Championship, putting the European Open champions within touching distance of a semi-final berth in Agadir.

Germany continued their impressive start to the inaugural IHF Women’s Under-16 World Championship with another convincing performance, as Nora Lueg took centre stage in the victory against Tunisia, 38:26, on Sunday.

The 16-year-old right wing scored nine goals, adding another highlight to an international campaign that has already showcased her potential. Following their 53:12 opening-day win against Mexico, Germany made it two victories from two matches, strengthening their position at the top of Group C and moving closer to a place in the semi-finals.

Germany, who lifted the Women's 16 European Open title in July, arrived in Morocco with ambitions of challenging for the first world title at this age category. Their opening results have put them firmly on course, with a final preliminary-round match against Uzbekistan still to come on Tuesday.

For Lueg, Germany’s starting right wing, the win against Tunisia was another opportunity to demonstrate her growing influence in a team eager to make its mark on the global stage.

“It was amazing. I had so much fun with the team, and I was glad that I could score so many goals,” she said after the match.

 

Lueg's development has also been attracting attention at club level. Despite being only 16, she has already made her senior debut for Borussia Dortmund this year, stepping into a dressing room featuring established international players such as Alina Grijseels, Lisa Antl – silver medallists with Germany at the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, Kelly Vollebregt and Ona Vegué.

She also scored her first goal in the German Women's Bundesliga in October, an important milestone in her progression from youth handball to the senior game, when she came on the court in the 33:23 win against Buxtehuder SV, one week after making her debut in a German Cup game against SV Union Halle-Neustadt.

For a young player, the opportunity to train and compete alongside experienced professionals offers a valuable learning environment. Lueg admits that the prospect was daunting at first, but the experience has quickly become a source of motivation.

“At the beginning, I was really scared, but now I see it as a chance to gain experience,” she explained.

The right wing began playing handball at around three years of age, joining a small club before progressing through the German development system. The appeal of the sport was clear from the outset.

“I love it because it's a team sport, and I love playing with my friends. There's always a great atmosphere in the hall,” Lueg said.

Her ambitions, however, extend well beyond her current achievements. Having already experienced the demands of senior handball, she wants to continue progressing towards the highest level of the game.

“I would like to play at the top, at the highest level. The Bundesliga is the level I want to play at, and my dream is to play in the Champions League,” she said.

Germany's strong start in Agadir follows their triumph at the Women's 16 European Open in Göteborg, Sweden, in July. Lueg played an important role in that campaign, scoring four goals in the 29:17 final victory against Hungary. 

Lueg had previously scored two goals in the quarter-final against Spain and four goals in the semi-final against Croatia, marking herself as one of the top players in a loaded Germany squad, which is brimming with talent.

That success secured Germany's place at the inaugural IHF Women's Under-16 World Championship and gave the team confidence ahead of its first appearance on the global stage.

 

Now, at Morocco 2026, Lueg is her team’s top scorer, with 14 goals, having missed only four of the shots she tried, for a 78% shooting efficiency.

The objective in Morocco is clear, although Lueg acknowledges that expectations bring their own pressure.

“Of course, we would like to win. We are European champions, so there is a little bit of pressure to win, but I think we all know how to play, so we can achieve our objective,” she said.

The two victories have brought Germany a significant step closer to fulfilling that ambition. Their emphatic opening win against Mexico established an impressive goal difference, while the success against Tunisia confirmed that their early form was no coincidence.

Only the group winners advance to the semi-finals, meaning Germany must complete the job against Uzbekistan on 20 October. A draw would guarantee first place, while another strong performance would further underline their credentials as title contenders.

For Lueg, meanwhile, the tournament offers an opportunity to build on the experience she is gathering at Borussia Dortmund and to establish herself as one of the young players to watch in German handball.

“It’s an amazing experience,” concluded the 16-year-old, who is already announcing herself as one of the future Germany talents.