North Macedonia completed a successful qualifying window with a 78-70 away win against Azerbaijan on March 3, 2026. This result demonstrated North Macedonia's resilience and quality, as they managed a tough road victory to sweep their fixtures. Azerbaijan, coming off a last-gasp win, started strongly, but North Macedonia's system and experience gradually took over. They tightened their defense in the second half and found consistent scoring options to pull away. The 78-70 scoreline reflected North Macedonia's control in the closing stages, as they secured another vital two points to top their group. For Azerbaijan, the defeat was a reality check after their previous dramatic win, highlighting the consistency required at this level.