Atingre is a "lioness" - the new goalkeeper of Montenegro makes her debut against Serbia

The former goalkeeper of France will be the new trump card of Montenegrin handball players on the way to Paris - Armel Atingre has received the citizenship of our country and from now on she will guard the goal of the "lionesses".

According to the Handball Federation of Montenegro, the Buducnost Bemax goalkeeper got the right to play after she acquired Montenegrin citizenship by admission and completed the necessary procedures before the World Handball Federation (IHF).

He will not wait long for his debut in the jersey with the national coat of arms of Montenegro - already on Thursday he will be in the squad for the visit of the Serbian selection in the qualifiers for the European Championship.

"Atingre will be especially important after the serious injury that Marta Batinović suffered at the World Cup in December last year, due to which she expects a longer break. The goalkeeper born in Ivory Coast will now form a great tandem with Marina Rajčić in the goal of the 'Lioness' and will be a significant asset in the fight to achieve the main goal this year - qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris," the statement added.

Atingre once defended the colors of France, but she made her last appearance for that selection ten years ago at the European Championship.

The Handball Federation of Montenegro thanked the ambassador to France, Ivan Ivanišević, who, they say, made a great contribution in completing the necessary procedure.

In 2020, Atingre arrived in Budućnost from the Hungarian Fehervar, and during her career she played for the French clubs Ivri, Floris Loire, Isi Paris and Nantes and Turkish Ankara.

She was the best goalkeeper of the French championship in 2013 and 2014.

MUP: Reception of special importance for sports interest

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Minister of Reason, Danilo Saranović, handed over a Montenegrin passport to the handball player, "as a person whose admission to Montenegrin citizenship is of particular importance for the sporting interests of our country".

"The Montenegrin Handball Association pointed out that this represents a great boost for the national team for future appearances at many international sports competitions, considering that this is a young and promising player, who is currently one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. Minister Šaranović during the meeting, thanked the promising handball player for her contribution to Montenegrin handball and wished her success in her further handball career," the MUP announced.