Nigeria’s U18 Women’s Handball team suffered a 29-22 defeat against Chinese Taipei in a placement match at the ongoing IHF Women’s World U18 Handball Championship in Chuzhou, China.
The match, held on Thursday at the Olympic Sports Center, was a challenging encounter for the Nigerian team, marking a difficult chapter in their maiden appearance at the world stage.
The game began with Nigeria struggling to find their footing, as they conceded seven penalty goals, allowing Chinese Taipei to take control of the first half with a 17-13 lead.
Despite their best efforts, Coach Shittu Adewunmi Agboola’s side found it difficult to break through their opponents’ well-organized defense.
In the second half, Nigeria showed renewed determination, playing with more intensity as they aimed to close the gap. They managed to score 15 goals, many of which came from close-range opportunities.
However, Chinese Taipei’s superior defense and clinical finishing kept them ahead, ultimately sealing the 29-22 victory.
Despite the loss, Nigeria’s performance had its positives, with the team recording a 49% overall shot efficiency and an impressive 100% success rate on fast breaks.
The Nigerian girls will now face Kosovo on Friday in another placement match as they seek to finish the tournament on a high note.
