The coaches of the national U-18 and U-20 women’s teams have listed 28 players (14 each) for the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Championship, which will hold in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, from April 20 to 24, 2025.
According to Nigerian Handball Federation’s (NHF) Media Officer, Cosmas Chukwuemeka Akisi, the coaches picked their players after a two-week training camp at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, ahead of their journey to Abidjan.
He said that the teams left Lagos, yesterday, en route Abidjan, Cote d’Voire, adding that Coach John Uzor of the U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes, and her sister, Omole Shola, alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy and right back, Faisat Balogun in the mix, while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo also made the cut.
“In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days.
The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside her Rima Queens teammates, the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters. Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic kept their places.”
He said that team is without key player, Taiwo Babatunde, who was not released by her school, Yaba College of Technology, adding, however, that Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously in the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examination. We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service in the interest of Nigeria, and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they were released from their schools, but for no tangible reason, YABATECH refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and i hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission would work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events.
“Regardless, we still have the core of the team and I believe we’ll do well at the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase Championship in Abidjan,” Coach Shittu said.
In the U-18 category, Nigeria is in Group A alongside Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso. They will begin their campaign against Togo on Sunday at 11.00 a.m., before taking on Burkina Faso on Monday at 9.00 a.m. and then Ghana on Tuesday at 11.00 a.m.
Nigeria’s U-20 team are in Group B alongside Benin Republic and Togo. They will begin their campaign on Monday against Togo at 3.00 p.m. and then play Benin Republic on Tuesday, at 3.00 p.m.
All matches will be played at the Salle Polyvalente des Parcs de Sport de Treichville (Multipurpose Sports Hall), Abidjan.
The players in the U-18 girls’ team are Omole Joy, Ngaodurubie Chetachi Angela, Omole Shola, Sharon Okonkwo, Ojie Princess, Nestor Abigail and Balogun Faisat.
Others are Audu Salamatu, Mohammed Balikis, Duru Success, Oluwalade Phebe, Adebayo Aliya, Peter Sarah and Treasure Mike Osagie.
The U-20 team has Kehinde Babatunde and Precious Samuel (goalkeepers), Rahima Bello, Izuoma Ijeoma (centre backs), Esther Mathew, Chidera Ogbusimba, Prudence Samuel, Michael Christiana (left backs), as well as Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters (left wing).
Others are Lucy Onyekwere, Mahmud Aishat (right wing), Mariam Ojo and Akinlade Damilola (pivot).
