Nigeria U-20, U-18 Teams Begin IHF Trophy Campaign with Impressive Wins in Togo
Nigeria’s Under-20 and Under-18 men’s handball teams kicked off their campaigns at the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 tournament in Lomé, Togo, with commanding victories over their respective opponents.
The Under-18 side, coached by Abdulhakim Yakubu, delivered a composed and resilient performance to defeat Niger Republic 30–19. Despite a closely contested first half that ended 12–10 in Nigeria’s favour, the team raised their intensity after the break, combining clinical attacking play with improved defensive organisation to secure a convincing win.
Aliyu Rufai was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) following an outstanding display that proved crucial to Nigeria’s dominance in the second half.
In the Under-20 category, Coach David Emmanuel’s team also impressed, overcoming Burkina Faso 23–18 in their opening fixture. Nigeria established control early, taking a 12–8 lead into halftime, and maintained their composure in the second half to seal the victory.
Faruk Kareem earned MVP honours for his standout performance, playing a key role in guiding the Under-20 team to a successful start.
Both teams have now built strong momentum in the tournament organised by the International Handball Federation, boosting their prospects of advancing to the next stage.
