Nigeria U-18, U-20 teams qualify for finals of IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 in Togo

Nigeria U-18, U-20 teams qualify for finals of IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 in Togo

Nigeria’s Under-18 and Under-20 men’s handball teams have booked their places in the finals of the ongoing IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 tournament in Lomé after impressive semi-final victories over Ghana on Friday.

The Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu tutored Under-18 side delivered a commanding performance, thrashing Ghana 42–22 to secure their spot in the final. The Nigerian youngsters dominated from start to finish, showcasing fluid attacking play and a solid defensive structure that left their opponents with little chance.

Their emphatic win highlights the team’s consistency throughout the tournament as they continue their quest for a successful defence of the Africa Zone 3 title.

In contrast, the Under-20 team, guided by Coach David Emmanuel, had to dig deep to edge past Ghana 21–19 in a tightly contested encounter. The match lived up to expectations, with both sides battling fiercely with "end to end" stuff between the two rivals but Nigeria held their nerve in the closing stages to clinch victory.

Goalkeeper Attahiru Sahabi was voted the Man of the Match after producing a series of breathtaking saves that proved decisive in securing the narrow win for Nigeria.

With both teams now through to the finals, Nigeria stands on the brink of a double triumph in the competition organised by the International Handball Federation.

All eyes will now be on the finals as the Nigerian sides aim to cap off their impressive campaign in Lomé with gold medals and secure qualification to the IHF Trophy Africa continental phase later in the year