With two wins in the last matchday, Guinea secured the title in both tournaments at the Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy, with the African side leading the standings in both the junior (U19) and the youth (U17) competitions, which took place between 7 and 11 April in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria.

The junior competition was a clear domination from Guinea all around, winning four out of four matches. After the slow start against Uzbekistan (34:33), Guinea followed up with a 34:25 win against Colombia and a 33:20 win against Bulgaria, leaving the African side in need of a draw against Canada in the last match.

However, there was nothing Canada could to to weather the storm, as Guinea were simply too strong, deciding the outcome of the match from the first half. A strong 5:0 start was crucial in the match, as Guinea never looked behind from that moment on.

11 goals from Maciré Camara, nine goals from Diaraye Soumah and eight from Kadiatou Bangoura, as well as 17 saves from goalkeeper Aicha Fall were decisive for Guinea, which jumped to a 47:27 win, their fourth in a row, which secured the first place in the final standings.

A 33:33 draw between Bulgaria and Uzbekistan saw the European side finish second, with five points, while Canada ended up third, with four points, one more than Uzbekistan. Colombia were the last team in the standings, with zero points.

Bulgaria’s Melina Spasova was the top scorer, with 38 goals, followed by Guinea’s Maciré Camara, with 37 goals, and another Guinea player, Diaraye Soumah, with 32 goals.

As Guinea had already secured qualification for the 2026 IHF Women's Junior World Championship prior to the IHF Trophy Women Intercontinental Phase, by finishing second in the standings of their continental competition, the qualification spot reserved for the IHF Trophy winner is to be allocated in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations. Accordingly, said spot shall be awarded to the highest-ranked team from the same continental confederation as the IHF Trophy winner that had not yet qualified for the World Championship.

In this regard, the relevant reference is the 2025 CAHB African Women's Junior Handball Championship, in which Algeria finished in fifth place - the highest-ranked African team that had not secured World Championship qualification through the continental pathway. As a result, Nigeria will participate in the 2026 IHF Women's Junior World Championship.

Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy 2026 – Junior All-Star team

Goalkeeper: Andjelina Pencheva (Bulgaria) 
Right wing: Maciré Camara (Guinea)
Right back: Mahély Lemaire (Canada)
Centre back: Aicha Bangoura (Guinea, no.11)
Left back: Melina Spasova (Bulgaria)
Left wing: Sunajon Sharipboeva (Uzbekistan)
Line player: Diaraye Soumah (Guinea)

MVP: Aicha Bangoura (Guinea, no.11)
Top scorer: Melina Spasova (38 goals)

In the youth competition, Guinea emerged as the only team with a zero in the column of losses, building up their form after drawing their maiden match against Bulgaria, 33:33.

Wins over Canada (36:32) and Uzbekistan (41:33) followed, and the deciding blow came after the last round, when they pulled no punches to win against Venezuela, in a match which they dominated from start to finish.

Guinea’s top scorer was once again Mabinty Delmaya Camara, with nine goals, as Guinea took an early 16:5 lead and never looked back, securing their clearest win in the competition, 44:21.

Bulgaria secured the second place, with five points, two behind Guinea, as Martina Todorova scored 11 goals in a dramatic 37:36 win against Uzbekistan, which finished third in the final standings, with four points. Canada (three points) were fourth, while Venezuela finished last, with one point.

As Guinea had already secured qualification for the 2026 IHF Women's Youth World Championship prior to the IHF Trophy Women Intercontinental Phase, the qualification spot reserved for the IHF Trophy winner is to be allocated in accordance with the IHF Rules and Regulations. Accordingly, said spot shall be awarded to the highest-ranked team from the same continental confederation as the IHF Trophy winner that had not yet qualified for the World Championship.

In this regard, the relevant reference is the 2025 CAHB African Women's Youth Handball Championship, in which Nigeria finished in fifth place - the highest-ranked African team that had not secured World Championship qualification through the continental pathway. As a result, Nigeria will participate in the 2026 IHF Women's Youth World Championship.

Bulgaria’s Martina Todorova was the top scorer of the competition, with 40 goals, with four goals over Canada’s Azalée Morisette-Davies and nine goals over Guinea’s Mabinty Delmaya Camara.

Bulgaria’s Emili Andreeva was the top goalkeeper in the youth competition, with 52 saves and a 30.4% saving efficiency, with Guinea’s Mama Adama Camara following with 42 saves and a 29.7% saving efficiency and Canada’s Roselyne Roy, with 39 saves and a 29.5% saving efficiency.

Women’s Intercontinental Phase of the IHF Trophy 2026 – Youth All-Star team

Goalkeeper: Emili Andreeva (Bulgaria)
Right wing: Mabinty Delmaya Camara (Guinea)
Right back: Ilmira Bayjanova (Uzbekistan)
Centre back: Martina Todorova (Bulgaria)
Left back: Azalée Morisette-Davies (Canada)
Left wing: Nozima Rasuljonova (Uzbekistan)
Line player: N'nady Sylla (Guinea)
MVP: Mabinty Delmaya Camara (Guinea)
Top scorer: Martina Todorova (40 goals)

Photo credit: Bulgarian Handball Federation