Nigeria’s under-18 men’s handball team claimed the IHF Trophy Africa Men Continental Phase title on Wednesday with a 38-26 victory over Guinea in the final held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The match, attended by top officials from the Ethiopian central government and representatives from the Nigerian embassy led by Minister Boco Effiom Mbo, showcased Nigeria’s dominance from the start.
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Despite some early turnovers, Coach Emeka Nnamani’s team ended the first half with a 21-14 lead. In the second half, Nigeria fully displayed their prowess, playing with confidence and style.
Key players Christian Foloki and Azeez Sulaimon Olaitan were instrumental in securing the victory, with Olaitan overcoming an earlier injury to deliver a stellar performance. Olaitan was named the Most Valuable Player of the match.
Coach Nnamani highlighted the team’s preparation and strategic planning for the final. He also expressed gratitude to the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), led by Mr. Samuel Ocheho, for their unwavering support throughout the tournament stages, from the Zone 3 Phase in Ghana to the continental phase.
“What more can I say? We prepared for this moment and the boys took it with all seriousness. We knew the Guineans from the previous times we played them and we watched their matches in this competition so we can tactically prepare for them which we did.
Of course, the real MVP is the Handball Federation of Nigeria led by Mr. Samuel Ocheho and represented here by Alhaji Abdukadir Hussaini Mohammed, who is a member of the HFN, for the support right from the Zone 3 Phase to the continental phase of the IHF Trophy Africa.
They ensured that we made it to this competition despite the flight delay and gave us all the necessary backing to do well,” said Coach Nnamani.
The final was graced by dignitaries including Guinea’s Prime Minister Bah Oury, the Ethiopian Minister of Culture and Sports, the first Vice President of the Confederation of African Handball (CAHB), and several ambassadors and handball federation presidents from participating countries.
With this victory, Nigeria has qualified for the IHF Trophy Intercontinental Phase, scheduled to take place early next year. The team will represent Africa in the under-18 category.
