Nigeria’s Under-18 men’s handball team has triumphed as champions of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy Africa Men’s Continental Championship, defeating Guinea 38-26 in the final on Wednesday in Addis Ababa.
The Nigerian team, led by Coach Emeka Nnamani, started strong, ending the first half with a 21-14 lead despite some early turnovers. In the second half, the team dominated, with standout performances from Christian Foloki and Azeez Sulaimon, who played crucial roles in both scoring and defense to secure the victory.
With this win, Nigeria successfully defended the title they claimed in Congo Brazzaville in 2022. Sulaimon earned the title of Player of the Match for his impressive contribution.
Coach Nnamani praised his team’s dedication and preparation, noting their strategic planning against the Guineans. “We studied our opponents carefully and prepared tactically for this match. I’m grateful to the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) for their support, which was crucial, especially with the travel delays we encountered,” Nnamani said in a statement by Cosmos Akisi, HFN’s media officer.
This victory qualifies Nigeria for the IHF Trophy Intercontinental phase, where they will represent Africa in the Under-18 Youth category early next year, with the tournament venue yet to be announced.
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