Nigeria's Handball team set for IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase

Posted : 06 February 2024

The Nigeria U-18 and U-20 men's handball national teams are currently in camp in Lagos ahead of the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase, which will take place in Ghana later this month.

The IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 is scheduled to be held in Accra, Ghana, from February 20 to 24, 2023. The Nigeria U-18 and U-20 men's teams will be defending the titles they won last year at the zonal level.

To this end, Coach Emeka Nnamani of the U-18 team and Coach Fidelis Obi of the U-20 team have invited eighteen players each for their respective teams. Training is ongoing earnestly in preparation for the competition at the Rowe Park Sports Center in Yaba, Lagos.

Among the players representing the U-18 men's national team are Tojemarine Academy's Kareem Farouk, Yusuf Sulaiman of Rima Strikers, and Mohammed Mustapha of Confluence Stars. The called-up players for the U-20 men's national team include Niger United's John Shagari, Kareem Ajibike of Tojemarine Academy, Joseph Emmanuel of De Defenders, and Ojo Olumide of Adidja Handball Club in Benin Republic.

Nigeria's U-18 and U-20 men's teams will participate in a round-robin competition at the 2024 edition of the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase. The U-18 team will compete in the Youth category alongside Benin Republic, host Ghana, and Togo, while the U-20 team will face Benin Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, and Togo in the Junior category.

The Nigerian teams will kick off their campaign on February 20, 2023, with the U-18 team facing Benin Republic, and the U-20 team playing against Liberia.

The IHF Trophy for men, organized by the International Handball Federation, begins this February and will conclude early next year with the InterContinental Phase. It consists of 20 tournaments across six continents, with each continent divided into a set number of zones based on geographical and competitive criteria. The winners of each zone qualify for the Continental Phase, and the winners of each Continental Phase qualify for the InterContinental Phase of the IHF Trophy to determine the final winner. The best Youth team in each competitive cycle also qualifies for the following Men’s Youth (U-19) World Championship.

Nigeria U-18 men's team is the champion of the Youth IHF Trophy Africa Continental Championship and finished third in the intercontinental phase, while the U-20 team came second at the Continental phase.

List of invited players for U-18 category includes:

1. Kareem Faruk (Tojemarine Academy)
2. Sulaiman Azeez (Tojemarine Academy)
3. Faloki Christian (Tojemarine Academy)
4. Obabori Samuel (Tojemarine Goal)
5. Ganiu Aduragbemi (Tojemarine Academy)
6. Ab Attahiru Sahabi (Sokoto Rima) --- Goalkeeper
7. Isyaka Mustapha (Tojemarine Academy)
8. Aliyu Rufai (Tojemarine Academy)
9. Yusuf Sulaiman (Sokoto Rima)
10. Mohammed Musa (Road Safety)
11. Iornghol Amos --- Goalkeeper
12. Mohammed Mustapha (Confluence Stars)
13. Sulaiman Sanni (Confluence Stars)
14. Fashogbon Sulaiman (Lagos Seasiders)
15. Dahiru Aminu (Sokoto Rima)
16. Isaac Panama (Adamawa)
17. Reuben Adumbe (Adamawa)
18. Ibrahim Hayatu (Correction Boys)

Officials:
Head Coach: Nnamani Joseph Emeka
Assistant Coach: Ayo Joshua

List of invited players for U-20 category includes:

1. Shagari John (Niger Utd.)
2. Sofeme Christopher (Niger Utd.)
3. Sunday Marhew (Niger Utd.)
4. Lawal T, Ahmed (Correction Boys)
5. Opaluwa J, Ajogwu (Confluence Stars)
6. Ughojor B, Obaro (Tojemarine Lagos)
7. Ajibike Kareem O. (Tojemarine Lagos)
8. Mukaila Fuad Gbolaham (Tojemarine Lagos) --- Goalkeeper
9. Kuti James Akorede (Tojemarine Lagos)
10. Yusuf Farouk (Club Balonmano Granollers)
11. Akani Basit Olayinka
12. Joseph Emmanuel (Defense Shooters) --- Goalkeeper
13. Abubakar Abdulraham (Sokoto Rima)
14. Abubakar Almustapha (Sokoto Rima)
15. Shittu Umar (Plateau Vipers)
16. Ibrahim Yusuf (Plateau Vipers)
17. Ojo Olumide Oluwagbenga (Addidja HC Cotonou)
18. Paul Silas (Adamawa Utd.) --- Goalkeeper

Nigeria's Handball team set for IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase

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