2021 World Women’s Handball Championship: Futile Adventure For Cameroon

The 2021 World Women’s Handball Championship ended in Spain on Sunday December 19, 2021 with Norway beating France to win its fourth title. Both nations put up a tough fight but what about Cameroon, one of the four African countries that participated in the competition. 16 Lionesses were chosen by Coach Serge Guebogo to defend the colours of the country at the competition but they could only finish 28th.

The handball Lionesses placed in Group B, were booted out in the first round and lost all their matches at this phase of the competition. They were not only defeated but were beaten with shameful results. In their opening game, the Russian Handball Federation thrashed them 40-18. The 22-point difference only showed that the Russian team was highly superior. It was a baptism of fire, but some thought Cameroon could step in their second game.

The scenario was even worse. Serbia beat Cameroon 43-18. Cameroon moved from a 22-point difference to a 25-point difference. The Lionesses proved to be weak in all the compartments. All hopes were not lost yet given that they still had to play their last group game against Poland, hoping that even if they do not win, they may at least tell the world that they deserve a spot in the competition. After all, the duo was fighting to snatch the third place in group B, a qualifying position for the next round. But Cameroon failed again after being beaten by Poland, 19-33.

After losing to Poland, Cameroon was immediately sent to the President’s Cup, a competition within the handball championship dedicated for teams that were eliminated in the first round. It was at the President’s Cup that Cameroon showed that though weak, they were better than some other nations. Cameroon was first beaten by fellow African side, Angola, before getting their first win in the competition against Uzbekistan and then clinching another against Iran.