Nigeria’s under-20 men’s handball team suffered a setback in the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase, facing a 36-31 defeat against Ivory Coast in the semifinals held in Accra, Ghana.
Despite their previous strong performances, the Nigerian team, led by Coach Fidelis Obi, struggled to contain the offensive prowess of their Ivorian counterparts.
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The match saw Nigeria facing an uphill battle from the start, with Ivory Coast establishing an early lead.
Despite Nigeria’s efforts to rally back, they faced challenges with turnovers and mistakes, particularly in the first half, which they lost 17-15.
Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t overturn the deficit, ultimately falling short against a determined Ivorian team.
Ivory Coast’s goalkeeper, Mollou Kouassi Yannick, earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title for his outstanding saves throughout the match, contributing significantly to his team’s victory.
Following the defeat, Nigeria’s under-20 team will now compete against Benin Republic for third place in a match scheduled for Saturday at 4 pm.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s under-18 team faced the Benin Republic in the Youth final by 2 pm on the same day, seeking to end the tournament on a positive note.
