Jesper Jensen ensured safe passage for Denmark into the main round of the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship with a 15-goal win for his side against Congo in a match where the Europeans never really broke into a sweat. 

For Congo, an apparent serious knee injury to the Paris 92-bound Josephine Nkou in the first quarter stopped them from finding their rhythm after they finally opened their scoring after 10 minutes.

GROUP F
Congo vs Denmark 18:33 (7:18)

Just before the 10th minute, Denmark were 5:0 up and cruising, the game almost already won. Some Danish players could even afford themselves a smile on court against a Congo side at their first world championship since 2009 and only their sixth ever.

Eventually, Congo did score, through Betchaidelle Ngombele and just as they looked to get some sort of hold in the game, stealing the ball from Denmark and launching a fastbreak with Josephine Nkou, the pacy winger pivoted onto her right knee cutting inside to goal, but collapsing in agony.

It was déjà vu for the Danish bench of which Nkou was in front of, following Mia Rej’s own knee injury for Denmark last time out and after lengthy treatment, Nkou was stretchered off. 

“Nkou is really essential for the group and at the moment we don’t know how serious it is,” said coach Younes Tatby in the post-match media conference.

“I had a talk with the doctor and apparently it could be an ACL or meniscus, but we will wait for the scan tonight or tomorrow morning. I hope that she will be able to come back but it will be difficult, and she will probably be out for the match against Tunisia. I hope for a good recovery.”

This incident affected the Congolese players – and Danish too – who did not manage to score for the next seven minutes and the gap in the score and on court continued to open.

Eleven goals up at the break, Jensen bought on fresh legs including goalkeeper Sandra Toft who had sat out the first half for Althea Reinhardt (14 saves from 21 shots at 67%).

Again, he was able to rotate his whole squad, including the new addition Michala Moller, who scored her first championship goal in any competition for the Danes, after being added as a late replacement to the squad yesterday.

Despite the final scoreline, Denmark did not repeat that early run of unanswered goals, with Congo keeping in touch throughout, ending the second 30 minutes just four goals down in the period (11:15).

“Of course, we have a bigger [handball] history and more players to take for our national team,” said Jensen, “but we are happy with the win and having four points from two matches.”

hummel Player of the Match: Mette Tranborg, Denmark