The handball national team at the IHF Emerging Nations men’s championship, in Kosovo, finished in a mid-table position in the final classification after going down to Cameroon in a play-off for eighth place, yesterday.

The African team beat Malta 37-12, the defeat coming a day after Joe Tanti’s men lost to Moldova 33-19 in another positional play-off, having qualified as runners-up from the group earlier in the week.

Captain Philip Mifsud, scorer of 22 goals in the 16-team tournament, said he was satisfied with the national team’s showing in Kosovo.

“We played strongly and consistently,” he told Times of Malta.

“Beating China and Ireland in the group stage surprised most of our opponents and making it to the quarter-finals meant facing the strongest teams whose experience showed. Our performance here is one to be proud of.”

Alex Di Pilato was Malta’s top scorer in Kosovo after netting 37 goals. The squad returns home today.

The new season starts in September.

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