URGENT UPDATE: The Montenegro women’s basketball team is set to confront a challenging series of qualifying matches for the European Championship, but crucial players will be absent due to injuries. Head coach Jelena Škerović announced a preliminary roster for the March “window,” which includes pivotal games against Ukraine in Riga and home games against Azerbaijan and Bulgaria.
The team will gather on March 8, 2024, in Riga, where they will face Ukraine on March 11, 2024. Notably, playmaker Sofija Živaljević from Slovakian club Ružomberok will miss this critical action due to injury. Her absence is a significant blow as Montenegro looks to secure their place in the next phase of qualifiers.
On the preliminary roster, Dragana Živković and Jovana Savković are also listed despite being sidelined with injuries. Živković, who plays for CS Rapid București, sustained an ankle injury just two minutes into the quarterfinal match of the Romanian playoffs on February 27. Meanwhile, Savković has been battling back issues for over a month, missing the recent final round of the Montenegro Cup.
Montenegro’s previous outings in the qualifiers saw them lose at home to Ukraine (71-65), secure a dominant away victory against Azerbaijan (104-62), and suffer a narrow defeat to Bulgaria (66-62). They are currently positioned third in Group E, trailing Bulgaria (3-0) and Ukraine (2-1), while ahead of Azerbaijan (0-3). Only the top two teams from each group, along with the three best third-placed teams across seven groups, will advance to the next stage.
Following their match in Riga, Montenegro will host Azerbaijan on March 14 and Bulgaria on March 17. These games are critical not just for standings but also for boosting team morale and securing a pathway to the championship.
Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as Montenegro navigates this tough stretch without key players. The pressure is on the remaining athletes to step up and deliver results that could decide their fate in the European Championship qualifiers.
