Handball: Nigeria team coach unveils squad for IHF Trophy

By Tosin Omojola

Coach Emeka Nnamani of Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Handball team has released the final roster of players set to represent Nigeria at the IHF Trophy Africa Men Continental Phase in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The tournament will take place at the Ethiopian Sports Academy from November 2 to November 6, 2024. Under the guidance of Coach Nnamani and Assistant Coach Joshua Olubato, the team has been preparing intensively at Rowe Park Sports Center in Yaba, Lagos, ahead of the competition.

The Nigerian delegation will depart on Friday morning from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, led by Alhaji Abdulqadir Hussaini Mohammed, an executive board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) representing the North-East zone.

The squad includes standout players such as team captain Faruk Kareem, MVP of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2023 Azeez Sulaimon Olaitan, and goalkeeper Samuel Obabori—all from Tojemarine Academy. Additional players include Aliyu Rufa’i of Corrections Boys, Sulaimon Sani of Niger United, Musa Mohammed of Safety Shooters, and Ganiu Aduragbemi of Lagos Seasiders.

Coach Nnamani expressed confidence in the team’s abilities, aiming for a strong showing and qualification for the IHF Trophy Intercontinental phase. “These players were selected from a large pool of talented under-18 handballers, and I know they will make our country proud, as they did at the zonal phase in Ghana earlier this year,” he said.

Nigeria’s Under-18 Handball team is the defending champion of the continental phase, which they won in Congo Brazzaville two years ago. They went on to place third globally in the Intercontinental phase in Kosovo. This year, they represent the Africa Zone B region after defeating Ghana 33–25 to clinch the IHF Trophy Men Africa Zone 3 Phase in Accra.

The team will open their campaign against Zambia in the Youth (Under-18) category on Saturday at 3 p.m. Nigerian time (5 p.m. local time in Addis Ababa).

Team Roster

Goalkeepers

  1. Obabori Samuel – Tojemarine HC
  2. AB Atahiru Sahabi – Sokoto Rima HC

Center Back

  1. Faruk Olamilekan Kareem (Captain) – Tojemarine HC
  2. Fashogbon Sulaimon Abayomi – Lagos Seasiders

Right Back

  1. Azeez Sulaimon Olaitan – Tojemarine HC

Left Back

  1. Foloki Christian Bolaji – Tojemarine HC
  2. Isyiaka Mustapha – Tojemarine HC
  3. Musa Mohamed – Safety Shooters
  4. Aliyu Rufa’i – Correction Boys HC

Pivot

  1. Yusuf Sulaiman – Tojemarine HC

Left Wing

  1. Mohamed Mustapha – Tojemarine HC
  2. Akani Basit Olayinka – Lagos Seasiders

Right Wing

  1. Ganiu Aduragbemi Emmanuel – Lagos Seasiders
  2. Sulaiman Sani – Niger United

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