Swedish Women's Handball Team's Disappointing Exit After Defeat to Angola at 2025 World Championship

The Swedish women's handball team was eliminated from the 2025 World Championship after a 26-24 defeat against Angola in their final group match. This loss confirmed Sweden's exit from the tournament, ending their campaign with a fourth-place finish in their group.

The match, which was of no competitive consequence for either side as both teams had already missed out on advancing, was closely contested. The first half ended in a 10-10 draw. Although Sweden briefly equalized in the second half, Angola pulled ahead to secure the two-goal victory.

The Swedish team’s performance has been widely criticized. Experts called it one of the worst seen in recent years, particularly faulting their defensive play. Commentator Martin Frändesjö described Sweden’s defense as "among the worse I have seen in years," noting multiple weak moments that allowed Angola to capitalize. Claes Hellgren remarked that this loss might even be worse than Sweden’s earlier 26-39 defeat to Norway.

Veteran player Jamina Roberts expressed her deep disappointment, stating, "We want to finish with some dignity but we fail to do so." She commented on the team’s defensive uncertainty and unclear attacking play throughout the tournament. Coach Tomas Axnér acknowledged the team’s poor showing, calling this campaign a historic low for Swedish handball and emphasizing the need for significant changes ahead of future competitions. Despite the setback, both Roberts and goalkeeper Johanna Bundsen expressed their intentions to continue playing for Sweden.

Sweden’s group included Norway and Brazil, both of which advanced to the quarter-finals, while Angola secured third place and progression due to their victory. The defeat and overall poor campaign have sparked calls for self-reflection and improvement within Swedish handball as the team looks ahead to rebuilding.