The former French goalkeeper is set to become a pivotal player for Montenegrin handball as Armel Atingre has officially obtained citizenship and will now defend the goal for the “lionesses.”

As confirmed by the Handball Federation of Montenegro, the Buducnost Bemax goalkeeper is eligible to play following her citizenship acquisition, having completed all necessary formalities with the International Handball Federation (IHF) before the upcoming matches.

She won’t have to wait long to wear the Montenegrin jersey—she is already included in the squad for the qualifier match against Serbia for the European Championship this Thursday.

“Atingre’s presence is crucial following the significant injury that Marta Batinović sustained during the World Cup in December, which is expected to sideline her for an extended time. The goalkeeper from Ivory Coast will create a formidable duo with Marina Rajčić in the ‘Lionesses’ goal and will be an invaluable asset in the pursuit of our primary objective this year: qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris,” the statement elaborated.

Previously, Atingre represented France on the international stage, but her last appearance for that team was a decade ago during a European Championship.

The Handball Federation of Montenegro expressed gratitude to the ambassador to France, Ivan Ivanišević, for his significant role in facilitating her citizenship process.

Atingre joined Budućnost in 2020 from the Hungarian club Fehervar. Throughout her career, she has played for French teams such as Ivri, Floris Loire, Isi Paris, Nantes, and the Turkish club Ankara.

She was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the French league in 2013 and 2014.

MUP: A Milestone for Sporting Interests

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has reported that Minister Danilo Saranović presented the Montenegrin passport to the handball player, stating that her citizenship is of particular significance for the sporting interests of our country.

“The Montenegrin Handball Association highlighted that this development gives a major boost to the national team for upcoming international sports events. Atingre is a young and promising talent and one of the best goalkeepers in Europe right now. Minister Šaranović took the opportunity to thank her for her future contributions to Montenegrin handball and wished her success in her career,” stated the MUP.

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