Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Monday, 08 December 2025, 21:47 / Updated on Monday, 08 December 2025 21:48
Angola secured a place in the Top 10 at the World Championship, hosted by the Netherlands and Germany, after a 14-year break, and coach Carlos Viver, who also trains Gloria Bistrița, is proud of his players' achievements.
Great joy on the bench and hugs on the field on Sunday, December 7, at the end of the Main Group IV match, in which Angola beat with 26-24 (10-10) a representative of Swedes already badly hurt by the results of this World Championship.
Carlos Viver (52 years old), the coach who led Spain to the 2019 world finals, losing 29-30 to the Netherlands, did not hide his emotion and happiness after that success. It was the decisive step for Angola to secure a place in the top 10 at the current edition of the WC. Something that had not happened since 2011, when the African national team finished the competition in 8th position.
A final validation was still needed, almost impossible not to achieve, which depended on the match between Poland and Austria in Main Group III. For Angola to leave the Top 10, Poland had to win by 18 goals. It really prevailed, but with 35-30.
Carlos Viver: “I'm very happy, it's incredible, extraordinary”
“I'm very happy, it's incredible, amazing”, exclaimed Viver at the end of Sunday's game against Sweden.Before the start of the championship, I thought that Sweden was among the favorites for the title, along with France, Denmark, maybe Montenegro, and our expectations were to reach the main group“, he added.
“But to finish with 6 points is amazing. It's one of the best finishes ever for Angola and that's why we're so happy.”
7is the top position achieved by the Angolan national team at the 2007 edition of the World Championship, when Romania finished 4th
Viver was on the bench for the African team and in 2023 with the title of second coach, in fact he held the position of technical advisor within the Angolan federation. Now, the team has ticked off four wins, two in the preliminary group played in Trier, 38-20 with Kazakhstan and 34-23 with South Koreaand two more in the main group, after moving to Dortmund, 28-25 against the Czech Republic and 26-24 with Sweden.
It was defeated by Norway in the first round, 31-19, and by Brazil in the next round, 32-26.
Carlos Viver during WC 2025 Photo: IHF
“The team fought a lot during the championship,” said the Iberian coach. “This last game against Sweden was the best for us, an incredible day where they worked for 60 minutes. We are very happy, because it is impossible to work harder than we did in this championship. I have no words, only congratulations to the players“, he also said.
Carlos Viver: “It is not possible to play without Albertina”
Albertina Kassoma (first from left) and her colleagues during WC 2025 Photo: IHF
Viver will take stock at the end of the competition and begin planning for the future as he plans to continue his role in the West African side, led by captain Albertina Kassomathe Rapid Bucharest player, who is absolutely essential for any future success, according to the Spaniard.
“Albertina is not only the reference of the team in Angola, but also in Europe, being among the five best pivots“, he points out. “For us, it is not possible to play without Albertina, because we need her all the time in defense and attack“, he insisted.
3players from the Romanian championship are in the Angola team: Albertina Kassoma (Rapid Bucharest), Helena Paulo (CSM Tg. Jiu), Liliana Venancio (Dunărea Brăila)
“I want the team to believe in itself, because the next step for the next championship is trust in the team, and the attitude in the match against Sweden is the best way to go,” said the team's current coach Gloria Bistrița.
“After a year as an advisor with the coaches and two years as a coach, I can say that working with the Angolan players is incredible. The atmosphere, the people, everything is incredible. They have a good character and a good attitude, and for me that's the most important thing“, he concluded.
