Nigeria men and women handball teams have qualified for the 2019 All African Games (AAG) in Morocco. Nigeria women’s team defeated Burkina Faso 33-26 for the second time at the qualifiers while the men’s team outclassed Benin Republic 35-29 in the final match of the tournament.
Nigeria U18 players, Toyin Yusuf and Hope Sunday of Plateau Peacocks as well as Kwara’s Muhinat Yusuf made history by making the starting 7 and impacting positively throughout the game.
The President of Handball Federation of Nigeria, Samuel Ocheho told www.aclsports.com that the young handball players have shown guts by been instrumental to the qualification of both teams to the 2019 All African Games in Morocco.
Ocheho said the board of HFN has been vindicated on their decision to infuse younger players to the senior national teams.
The ex international said, “We are in a celebratory mood right now; I am glad we were able to pick both tickets after a hard fought battle. Nigeria went with a young team and they showed guts.
“The board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria happy and glad to be vindicated by our decision to come out with a younger team, now the battle has just started”.
He said most members of the men’s team will be at the 3rd IHF Emerging nation championship in Georgia next month.
Ocheho said, “We will do our best to make Nigeria proud in Morocco. Most members of this team will be going to Georgia in June for the 3rd IHf emerging Nation Tournament and it will serve as a good ground for the team to prepare for the 2019 All African Games.
“Congratulations to both the men and women handball teams of Nigeria. I, the board members and handball stakeholders appreciate your never die attitude”.
Ocheho hailed the coaching crew led by Rafiu Salami for transforming the team within a short period.
He said, “The coaches have performed excellently well, they selected, trained and groomed the boys well for the occasion despite being in camp for about eleven day”.
