The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has commenced intensive training camps for the national U18 and U20 women’s handball teams at Rowe Park Sports Center, Yaba, Lagos. These preparations are in anticipation of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, scheduled to take place from April 20 to 24, 2025, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The U20 team, under the guidance of Coach Adewunmi Agboola Shittu, comprises players who previously represented Nigeria at the U18 level, achieving a historic qualification for the World Cup.
Key players include Kehinde Babatunde (ASPAC HBC, Benin Republic), her twin sister Taiwo Babatunde (Seasiders Babes, Lagos), Esther Mathew (ADDIDJA HBC, Benin Republic), and Rahima Bello (KIRYATONO HBC, Israel). Additional squad members are the Samuel sisters—Prudence and Precious—alongside Chidera Ogbusimba, Amina Mohammed, and Joy Peters, all from RIMA Queens of Sokoto, as well as Damilola Akinlade of Rivers Queens.
Coach Shittu expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the junior category, stating, “It is a new level of experience, as we haven’t played in the Junior category of the competition before now. We have players who have participated at the Youth level of this competition, but they are motivated to do well at the Junior level, and we will overcome despite it being a different experience.”
The U18 team, led by Coach John Uzor, features emerging talents such as Omole Joy (Rivers Queens), Taiwo Islamiat (Seasiders Babes), and Oluwalade Phoebe (Ekiti).
Coach Uzor emphasized the team’s ambition, saying, “We are stepping into big shoes worn by our elder sisters, who are now in the U-20 category, and we must maintain and even surpass their standards. We have the best group of players selected from across the country to do so, and I believe we will overcome in Côte d’Ivoire.”
U18 Invited Players
Goalkeepers
Folorunsho Deborah (Ekiti)
Victoria Peter (Suleja)
Sarah Peter (Seasiders Babes)
Left Back
Toyin Ogunsakin (Ekiti)
Audu Salamatu (Funad Academy)
Left Wing
Adebayo Adijat (Mindscope Academy)
Adegbite Abiodun (Ekiti)
Pivot
Oluwalade Phoebe (Ekiti)
Center Back
Ayogu Success (Ekiti)
Ojie Princess (Funa Academy)
Desola Wasiu (Delta Force)
Nestor Abigail (Mindscope Academy)
Right Back
Balogun Faizat (Seasiders Babes)
Mohammed Balikis (Rima Queens)
Right Wing
Taiwo Islamait (Seasiders Babes)
Ngaodurubie Chetachi (COAS Babes)
Oloidi Timilehin
Omole Joy
Omole Shops
Treasure Mike
Duru Success
Okonkwo Sharon
Officials
Coach John Uzor
Coach Bukola Duru
U-20 Invited Players
Kehinde Babatunde – ASPAC HBC, Cotonou
Rahima Belo – Kiryatono HBC, Israel
Esther Mathew – Addidja HBC, Cotonou
Chidera Ogbusimba – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Prudence Samuel – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Precious Samuel– Rima Queens, Sokoto
Amina Mohammed – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Joy Peters – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Lucy Onyekwere – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Mariam Ojo – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Eli Godiya – Funad Falcons, Lagos
Michael Christiana – Funad Falcons, Lagos
Okolo Joan – Delta Force, Delta
Izuoba Ijeoma – Delta Force, Delta
Taiwo Babatunde – Delta Force, Delta
Akinlade Damilola – Seasiders Queens, Lagos
Akinola Gift – Rivers Queens, Rivers
Opeyemi Olarenwaju – Ekiti Queens, Ekiti
Mahmuda Aishat – Osun United Queens
Monica Opara – Addidja HBC, Cotonou
Emuore Emmamuzo – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Officials
Agboola Shiitu Adewunmi – Tojemarine HBC, Lagos
Abdullahi Suleiman – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Success in the Abidjan tournament is crucial, as both teams must win the zonal phase to qualify for the continental stage later this year
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