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January 21, 2025Just like at Poland/Sweden 2023, Cape Verde took one victory in the preliminary round and with it, are through to the main round of an IHF Men’s World Championship.
For a small country with a population of less than 500,000, just participation in the global event is a success, but the island nation has more than found its place in the handball world, putting itself once again in the world’s top 24 teams. Opponents Cuba now move to Porec for the President’s Cup.
GROUP G
Cuba vs Cape Verde 28:38 (14:20)
On paper, Cape Verde were the strongest team going into this winner-takes-all clash against the North American and Caribbean continental champions.
A victory or draw (due to better goal difference) meant everything was in favour of Jorge Rito’s team, who were appearing in their third, successive world championship, while Cuba, returning to the IHF Men’s World Championship after an absence of 16 years, where they also played in Zagreb, had it all to do.
The difference in quality was evident early on as Cape Verde went on a 3:0 scoring run, opening up a lead sufficient enough for Cuba coach Luis Alberto Cuesta to take an early time out (6:3, 7th minute).
This lead was in part due to goalkeeper Élcio Fernandes, who ended the half with 11 saves – including two seven-metre shots, contributing to a 20:14, six-goal half-time lead.
But Fernandes would not play a full second half, going down on his right knee in the 36th minute after making a save and subsequently being carried off by Cuba’s Dariel Garcia and Frank Cordies in tears.
With three goalkeepers in their ranks, Cape Verde saw the rest of the game out with Edmilson Gonçalves and Bruno Fernandes between the sticks and with 15 minutes to go were well ahead (29:21). By the 53rd minute, the difference was 10 (34:24) and it went as high as 12 (38:26) but Cape Verde’s win will be edged with sadness as they await an update on the injury to Fernandes.
hummel Player of the Match: Leandro Semedo (Cape Verde)