IHF Trophy Africa: Nigeria Defeat Guinea To Retain Title

Nigeria’s under-18 men’s handball team claimed the IHF Trophy Africa Men’s Continental title on Wednesday with a decisive 38-26 victory over Guinea in the final held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The event was attended by prominent officials, including representatives from the Ethiopian central government and the Nigerian embassy, led by Minister Mr. Boco Effiom Mbo. Coach Emeka Nnamani’s squad started strong, overcoming early turnovers to secure a 21-14 lead at halftime.

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Nigeria continued to dominate in the second half, showcasing skill and confidence. Christian Foloki, who overcame an injury from the semi-final against Cameroon, and standout Azeez Sulaimon led the scoring, helping the team solidify their lead and secure the 38-26 win. This victory marks Nigeria’s successful defence of the title they first won in Congo Brazzaville two years ago.

Azeez Sulaimon Olaitan was named the Most Valuable Player of the match.

Coach Emeka Nnamani praised the team’s preparation and dedication, expressing gratitude to the Samuel Ocheho-led Handball Federation of Nigeria for their unwavering support throughout the competition, from the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Phase in Ghana to the continental phase.

He said, “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 could tactically prepare for them, which we did.

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“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.”

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