Cuba return to IHF Men’s World Championship action as Slovenia win big
16 Jan. 2025

Slovenia, aiming for another world championship podium spot after their bronze in 2017, got off to a perfect start, defeating Cuba, who were returning to the event after a gap of 16 years.
Exactly 30 years ago these two teams last met at an IHF Men’s World Championship (Iceland 1995) with Slovenia appearing as an independent nation for the very first time, while Cuba were at their fourth global event.
Cuba then took a 34:26 preliminary round win on their way to a 13th place finish, but this time, Slovenia were the winners, their 22-goal win at the Arena Zagreb opening preliminary group H of the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship.
GROUP H
Slovenia vs Cuba 41:19 (18:9)
For Cuba goalkeeper Adan Martinez, who plays his club handball just over an hour north-east of the Arena Zagreb, for MRK Čakovec, it was a day to forget as his side went down to a 22-goal defeat.
Martinez could manage just one save in the match as Slovenia, led by key player and hummel Player of the Match Aleks Vlah who top-scored with eight, dominated at both ends of the court.
The damage was done early on as the Cubans failed to hit the back of the net for 13 first-half minutes (11th-25th minute) as the Europeans went on a 9:0 unanswered scoring run, changing a 7:4 lead to 16:4. This had included a Cuban time out (19th minute, 12:4) but that did little to stem the tide as Slovenia extended the difference to double digits a few minutes later (14:4).
The second half was no different and when Slovenia went 30:13 up with 15 minutes remaining, Slovenia coach Uros Zorman could afford a relaxed walk up and down his bench, hands in pockets and smiling while talking with his team.
The job was done, but his side continued to put pressure on their opponents, making it +20 with five minutes remaining (35:15) in a dominant display.
Zagreb was also the location for Cuba last time they were at an IHF Men’s World Championship, back in 2009, and the North America and Caribbean continental champions will be hoping they can turn around themselves in time for the final group day clash against Cape Verde which is likely to decide the third team to qualify through to the main round.
Before that, the two teams both play their next games on Saturday (18 January), with Slovenia taking on Cape Verde in the early game, followed by Cuba vs Iceland.
hummel Player of the Match: Aleks Vlah (Slovenia)