2023 IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Champions throws off with four games in Varna

Eight of the 12 teams in the fourth edition of the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship will enter the fray in the Palace of Sports and Culture in Varna, including the hosts, Bulgaria, which will be aiming for a winning start against Azerbaijan in Group D.

With only three games being played in each group, every point counts as only the winners of the four groups will progress to the semi-finals, which will take place on Saturday, with the final being scheduled for Sunday.

Group A

• 12:15 EEST Malta vs Andorra

Malta are on an eight-game losing streak at the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship. Still, they are one of the three sides to have taken part in each and every edition of the competition, finishing eighth, 13th and 12th in the previous three editions.

They have won four out of the 15 games they played, including a 36:25 win over Andorra in the Placement Round at Bulgaria 2017, with the two sides rekindling their memories in Bulgaria, but this time in Varna.

On the other hand, Andorra have only two wins in nine matches, but they will return to the competition for the first time since 2017, boasting a team formed from most players in Andorra, with some others featuring in the lower leagues of Spain and France.

Malta have already played some competitive matches in 2023, losing three out of three against Cyprus, Great Britain and Azerbaijan – all teams featuring at Bulgaria 2023 – in the Qualification Phase 1 of the EHF EURO 2026. A 25:34 loss against Azerbaijan was followed by heavy losses against Cyprus (26:47) and Great Britain (14:44).

Their top scorers in that competition, Neil Gruppetta and Jacques Seifert, will be on the roster for Bulgaria 2023, as Malta will look to improve their record in the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship.

Group B

• 14:30 EEST Cyprus vs Republic of Moldova

After finishing fourth in 2017, Cyprus are returning to the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship as they aim to shake off the impression left in the EHF EURO 2026 Qualification Phase 1, where they missed out on the chance to progress to the next phase by finishing second, tied on points with Great Britain but with an inferior goal difference.

Building a new chapter for their side, Cyprus will aim to secure a place in the semi-finals in a group also featuring the Republic of Moldova and Australia, with the former side being their first opponent.

There is not a lot of experience in Cyprus’ team, but they still bring right back Dimitris Nikiforou into the fold. Therefore, younger players have some experienced ones around them to build a competitive side.

The Republic of Moldova have not finished outside of the top 10 in their previous two participations, yet only one player, Andrei Mitrofan, plays outside of their domestic league, in the lower leagues of Germany. Therefore, with a clear bar on their experience, the Republic of Moldova should be considered as outsiders in this game, but can always spring a surprise or two, having lost by only two goals (28:30) in the semi-finals of the IHF/EHF Trophy in June 2021.

Group C

• 16:45 EEST Great Britain vs Cuba

Having progressed to the Qualification Phase 2 of the EHF EURO 2026 was a resounding success for Great Britain, who are aiming higher and higher as their setup has become more professional and players have been getting an impressive amount of experience over the last few years.

Big wins against Malta and Azerbaijan back in January and a 25:25 draw against Cyprus cemented the status of Team GB, who will be trying to continue the upward trend at the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship, where they finished fourth at the last edition in 2019.

Their path to the trophy was blocked by Cuba four years ago with a 27:35 loss in the semi-finals, but Great Britain look stronger here despite Cuba bringing some experienced players at Bulgaria 2023.

Cuba ended up in third place at the 2022 North America and Caribbean Men’s Handball Championship, having lost two games against the United States of America and Mexico in the group phase and drawn against Greenland.

However, they are the silver medallists at the previous edition of the Men’s Emerging Nations Championship and will bring some players with European experience into the fold. Therefore they, should still be considered as one of the contenders for the trophy.

Group D

• 19:00 EEST Azerbaijan vs Bulgaria

Bulgaria have been on an upward trend at the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship with an 11th place in 2015, a fifth place in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2019. With the competition being hosted in Varna, they aim to seal a medal once again, and they have prepared thoroughly for this week.

Led by the all-time top scorer of the IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship, Svetlin Dimitrov, who is featuring week after week in the French league, Bulgaria will be heavily favoured in the group phase against Azerbaijan and Nigeria, anything but two wins in their first two games being considered a disappointment.

But Azerbaijan are no pushovers despite their losses in January against Great Britain (22:39) and Cyprus (23:32) in the EHF EURO 2026 Qualification Phase 1. Yet, they bring players with limited international experience, which can be their undoing.