# 2015 IHF Emerging Nations Championship

The 2015 IHF Emerging Nations Championship was the first edition of the IHF Emerging Nations Championship, organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF). The tournament was held in Pristina and Gjakova, Kosovo, from 20 to 26 June.
A total of 16 nations played in the tournament: several European teams that did not qualify to the 2014 European Men's Handball Championship, plus Australia, Cameroon, China and Uruguay.

## Referees

Following eight referee pairs are selected:
Referees :
| Andorra | Mohamed Bedoui Kouichli Lluis Coll Exposito |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Kulovic Edin Skaljic Vedad |
| Bulgaria | Zvezdelin Yonchev Svetoslav Yovchev |
| Cameroon | Ndemdou Blaise Ngassa Laure |
Referees :
| China | Zhou Yunlei Cheng Yufeng |
| United Kingdom | Hollis Jason Mark Le-Mon Nicholas Thomas |
| Kosovo | Ilir Bytyqi Syart Kasapi |
| Latvia | Martins Leitis Ralfs Persis |

## Venues

The championship were played at two venues in Pristina and Gjakova in Kosovo.
| Pristina | Gjakova | PristinaGjakova |
| Palace of Youth and Sports Capacity: 3,000 | Shani Nushi Sports Hall Capacity: 2,500 | PristinaGjakova |

## Preliminary round

The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage.

### Tie-breaking criteria

For the group stage of this tournament, where two or more teams in a group tied on an equal number of points, the finishing positions will be determined by the following tie-breaking criteria in the following order:
* number of points obtained in the matches among the teams in question
* goal difference in the matches among the teams in question
* number of goals scored in the matches among the teams in question (if more than two teams finish equal on points)
* goal difference in all the group matches
* number of goals scored in all the group matches
* drawing of lots

### Group A

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Faroe Islands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 131 | 73 | +58 | 5 |
| Kosovo | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 121 | 77 | +44 | 4 |
| Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 119 | 85 | +34 | 3 |
| Armenia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 182 | −136 | 0 |
| 20 June 2015 15:15 | Faroe Islands | 34–34 | Australia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 20 June 2015 15:15 | | (16–18) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 20 June 2015 15:15 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | Kosovo | 60–17 | Armenia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | | (32–4) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | Armenia | 9–61 | Faroe Islands | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | | (4–27) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | Australia | 24–31 | Kosovo | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | | (12–16) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,000 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | Australia | 61–20 | Armenia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | | (28–9) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | Faroe Islands | 36–30 | Kosovo | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | | (19–12) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,200 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |

### Group B

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Estonia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 65 | +37 | 4 |
| Cameroon | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 58 | +42 | 4 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 110 | 71 | +39 | 4 |
| Albania | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 46 | 164 | −118 | 0 |
| 20 June 2015 13:00 | Estonia | 26–27 | Great Britain | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 20 June 2015 13:00 | | (12–15) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 20 June 2015 13:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | Cameroon | 51–12 | Albania | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 300 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | | (25–8) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 300 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 300 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | Great Britain | 16–23 | Cameroon | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | | (9–9) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | Albania | 12–46 | Estonia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | | (6–20) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Bedoui, Coll Exposito (AND) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | Great Britain | 67–22 | Albania | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | | (34–8) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | Estonia | 30–26 | Cameroon | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | | (14–12) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |

### Group C

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Moldova | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 73 | +47 | 5 |
| Malta | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 81 | 100 | −19 | 4 |
| China | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 88 | +5 | 3 |
| Ireland | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 74 | 107 | −33 | 0 |
| 20 June 2015 15:45 | Moldova | 43–20 | Ireland | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 20 June 2015 15:45 | | (17–10) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 20 June 2015 15:45 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | China | 28–29 | Malta | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | | (14–13) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 20 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | Ireland | 29–35 | China | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | | (14–14) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 21 June 2015 13:30 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | Malta | 23–47 | Moldova | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | | (10–24) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 21 June 2015 15:45 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | China | 30–30 | Moldova | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | | (12–14) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 22 June 2015 13:30 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | Malta | 29–25 | Ireland | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | | (17–10) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 22 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 250 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |

### Group D

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Latvia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 60 | +32 | 6 |
| Uruguay | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 88 | 53 | +35 | 4 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 92 | 67 | +25 | 2 |
| Andorra | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 126 | −92 | 0 |
| 20 June 2015 13:30 | Uruguay | 38–9 | Andorra | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 20 June 2015 13:30 | | (16–4) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 20 June 2015 13:30 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | Latvia | 27–25 | Bulgaria | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | | (13–12) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 20 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | Bulgaria | 20–28 | Uruguay | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | | (12–14) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 21 June 2015 18:00 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ilir, Syart (KOS) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | Andorra | 13–41 | Latvia | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | | (7–24) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 21 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Ndemdou, NGASSA (CMR) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | Latvia | 26–24 | Uruguay | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 260 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | | (11–13) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 260 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 22 June 2015 15:45 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 260 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | Bulgaria | 47–12 | Andorra | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | | (23–6) | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |
| 22 June 2015 20:15 | | Report | | Shani Nushi, Gjakova Attendance: 100 Referees: Hollis, Le-Mon (GBR) |

## Knockout stage
### Championship

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| A1 | Faroe Islands | 26 | | | | | | |
| B2 | Cameroon | 21 | | | | | | |
| B2 | Cameroon | 21 | A1 | Faroe Islands | 31 | | | |
| | | | A2 | Kosovo | 23 | | | |
| B1 | Estonia | 30 | A2 | Kosovo | 23 | | | |
| A2 | Kosovo | 31 | | | | | | |
| A2 | Kosovo | 31 | | | | A1 | Faroe Islands | 27 |
| | | | | | | D1 | Latvia | 24 |
| C1 | Moldova | 23 | | | | | | | D1 | Latvia | 24 |
| D2 | Uruguay | 34 | | | |
| D2 | Uruguay | 34 | D2 | Uruguay | 21 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | D1 | Latvia | 25 |
| D1 | Latvia | 35 | D1 | Latvia | 25 | A2 | Kosovo | 28 |
| C2 | Malta | 14 | | | | D2 | Uruguay | 16 |

### 5th place bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | 5th Place | 5th Place | 5th Place |
| B2 | Cameroon | 26 | | | |
| B1 | Estonia | 27 | | | |
| B1 | Estonia | 27 | B1 | Estonia | 37 |
| | | | C1 | Moldova | 33 |
| C1 | Moldova | 33 | C1 | Moldova | 33 |
| C2 | Malta | 19 | 7th Place | 7th Place | 7th Place |
| | | | B2 | Cameroon | 39 |
| | | | C2 | Malta | 13 |

### 9th place bracket

| - | - | - | - | - | - | 9th place | 9th place | 9th place |
| A3 | Australia | 30 | | | | | | |
| B4 | Albania | 22 | | | | | | |
| B4 | Albania | 22 | A3 | Australia | 26 | | | |
| | | | B3 | Great Britain | 32 | | | |
| B3 | Great Britain | 38 | B3 | Great Britain | 32 | | | |
| A4 | Armenia | 20 | | | | | | |
| A4 | Armenia | 20 | | | | B3 | Great Britain | 28 |
| | | | | | | C3 | China | 22 |
| C3 | China | 39 | | | | | | | C3 | China | 22 |
| D4 | Andorra | 30 | | | |
| D4 | Andorra | 30 | C3 | China | 28 | 11th place | 11th place | 11th place |
| | | | D3 | Bulgaria | 27 |
| D3 | Bulgaria | 46 | D3 | Bulgaria | 27 | A3 | Australia | 35 |
| C4 | Ireland | 26 | | | | D3 | Bulgaria (PS) | 36 |

### 13th place bracket

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | 13th Place | 13th Place | 13th Place |
| B4 | Albania | 37 | | | |
| A4 | Armenia | 26 | | | |
| A4 | Armenia | 26 | B4 | Albania | 29 |
| | | | C4 | Ireland | 33 |
| D4 | Andorra | 29 | C4 | Ireland | 33 |
| C4 | Ireland | 36 | 15th Place | 15th Place | 15th Place |
| | | | A4 | Armenia | 15 |
| | | | D4 | Andorra | 32 |

#### Quarterfinals

| 24 June 2015 12:30 | Faroe Islands | 26–21 | Cameroon | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 24 June 2015 12:30 | | (13-11) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 24 June 2015 12:30 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 24 June 2015 15:00 | Moldova | 23–34 | Uruguay | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 24 June 2015 15:00 | | (13-18) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 24 June 2015 15:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 24 June 2015 17:30 | Estonia | 30–31 | Kosovo | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 24 June 2015 17:30 | | (14-17) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 24 June 2015 17:30 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1,800 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 24 June 2015 20:00 | Latvia | 35–14 | Malta | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 24 June 2015 20:00 | | (17-8) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |
| 24 June 2015 20:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 100 Referees: Yunlei, Yufeng (CHN) |

#### Semifinals

| 25 June 2015 17:30 | Faroe Islands | 31–23 | Kosovo | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 25 June 2015 17:30 | | (17-15) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 25 June 2015 17:30 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 2,200 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 25 June 2015 20:00 | Uruguay | 21–25 | Latvia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 25 June 2015 20:00 | | (10-11) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |
| 25 June 2015 20:00 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 200 Referees: Yonchev, Yovchev (BUL) |

#### Third place game

| 26 June 2015 | Kosovo | 28–16 | Uruguay | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 600 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 26 June 2015 | | (15-8) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 600 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |
| 26 June 2015 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 600 Referees: Leitis, Persis (LAT) |

#### Final

| 26 June 2015 | Faroe Islands | 27–24 | Latvia | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1000 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 26 June 2015 | | (13-12) | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1000 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |
| 26 June 2015 | | Report | | Pallati i Rinisë, Pristina Attendance: 1000 Referees: Kulovic, Skaljic (BIH) |

## Final ranking

| Rank | Team |
| | Faroe Islands |
| | Latvia |
| | Kosovo |
| 4 | Uruguay |
| 5 | Estonia |
| 6 | Moldova |
| 7 | Cameroon |
| 8 | Malta |
| 9 | Great Britain |
| 10 | China |
| 11 | Bulgaria |
| 12 | Australia |
| 13 | Ireland |
| 14 | Albania |
| 15 | Andorra |
| 16 | Armenia |
* 2015 Emerging Nations Championship Winners
* Faroe Islands First title
* Team Roster: Mikkjal Hansen, Bartal T. Kamban, Bogi Gaard Davidsen, Rókur Rasmusen, Hans Eli Sigurbjørnsson, Rúni Højgaard, Kjartan Johansen, Jóannes Prestá, Áki Egilsnes, Allan Norðberg, Andreas Eriksen, Tróndur Kragesteen, Rókur Akralíð, Tony Hammer Weyhe, . Team Officials: Kári Nielsen, Birgir Hansen, Jákup Duruus.

## Awards

* MVP: Tróndur Kragesteen
* Goalkeeper: Isaac Junior Fonsho
* Left Wing: Rosing Rasmussen
* Right Wing: Karl Roosna
* Center: Kreshnik Krasniqi kosovo
* Left Back: Raimonds Trifanovs
* Right Back: Áki Egilsnes
* Pivot: Jupa Kastriot
* Top Goal Scorer: Svetlin Dimitrov

## Media coverage

RTV21 streams all Kosovo matches and both final and 3rd place matches.
| Country / Region | Broadcaster |
| Kosovo | RTV21 |