The Montenegrin handball players are set to face Bulgaria in their final qualifying match for the European Championship. This encounter also acts as a final assessment prior to the qualification tournament for the Olympic Games.

The match at “Morača” is scheduled to begin at 18:00 and holds no significance for the standings, as the “lionesses” have already secured their place in the prestigious tournament by winning their group.

For Bojana Popović’s team, the game against the Bulgarian women is crucial for preparations for the main goal—the quest for a berth in Paris, which will be contested in Ulm, Germany, from April 11 to 14. This match also provides a valuable opportunity for younger team members to demonstrate their skills, while more seasoned players like goalkeeper Marina Rajčić, the talented Tatjana Brnović, and Dijana Mugoša will take a breather. The latter notably scored nine times in the previous qualifying victory over Turkey in Rize (30:28).

“The match against Bulgaria is significant for us, especially since we haven’t had many training sessions, and every moment spent together on the field is important. For us younger players, this is a key opportunity, as some will be playing in ‘Morača’ for the first time in a national team jersey,” said 20-year-old Nađa Kadović, who will be stepping in for Dijana Mugoša on the left wing.

Our handball team will travel to Germany on Wednesday, with a match against Paraguay scheduled for the following day, where a straightforward victory is anticipated. The first match of the next weekend pits them against Germany, followed by a face-off with Slovenia, coached by our renowned Dragan Adžić.

“Germany is the host, and it will be challenging. We experienced their support when we played at home, with the crowd acting as our eighth player. With our commitment and the atmosphere we have cultivated over the past few days, I have no doubt about our success,” Kadović expressed.

The youngest “lioness” on the team, Nikolina Marković, recently got a chance to play as a middle back for Budućnost Bemax in the Champions League, and she eagerly anticipates the game against Bulgaria.

“Playing for the national team is a unique feeling, truly indescribable. I hope that we younger players will make the best use of our opportunities. The European Championship was held here, and the atmosphere was incredible. Now I’ll be on the field, and I couldn’t be happier or more grateful. I hope the fans will support us as they always do,” emphasized Nikolina Marković, who made her debut for the senior national team against Bulgaria last October.

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