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Tag: Handball

  • Nigeria U-18 Handball team lands in Uzbekistan

    Nigeria U-18 Handball team lands in Uzbekistan

    Nigeria’s under 18 women’s handball team have landed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to participate at the IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase.

    The IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase will start  tomorrow .

    The Nigerian under 18 women handball team, who are African champion in the IHF Trophy, have been undergoing intensive preparation ahead of the competition at the National Institute of Sports at the National Stadium, Surulere for some weeks.

    Nigeria as African champions, will represent the continent after triumphing over the rest of the continent, first in the Africa zone 3 tourney in Ghana and the continental phase in Ivory Coast last year.

    Coach Shittu Adewunmi Agboola  released a final list of players consisting 14 players who were picked from the eighteen players invited for camping.

    The final list of players consists of three different set of siblings who have been playing in the national team together for a while. They include the Babatunde twins of Seasider Babes of Lagos, the Mohammed sisters who play for Rima Queens of Sokoto and Samuel Sisters who also play for Rima Queens.

    Other players include; Esther Matthew of Seasider Babes, Rahima Bello and Amarachi Oparaugu amongst others.

    Read Also: Handball Nations Cup: Agbaji fancies Nigeria‘s chances against Angola

    The team’s officials include Chief Coach Agboola Shittu Adewunmi, Assistant Coach Kayode Ayo-Idowu, and Assistant Coach Manual Diepreye.

    The Nigerian U18 Women’s Handball Team embarked on this journey carrying the hopes and expectations of a nation.

    Their participation in the IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase is not just about winning matches; it’s about showcasing the talent and potential of Nigerian handball on the global stage.

    Nigeria are in group A alongside Guadeloupe and New Caledonia and they will begin their campaign against Guadaloupe tomorrow (February 28th ).

    Final List of Players for U-18 tourney  

    1. Kehinde Babatunde

    2. Rahima Bello

    3. Taiwo Babatunde

    4. Chidera Ogbusimba

    5. Munira Kasimu

    6. Akinlade Damilola

    7. Amina Mohammed

    8. Igbinedion Blessing

    9. Esther Mathew

    10. Prudence Samuel

    11.Amarachi Oparaugo

    12. Precious Samuel

    13. Munira Mohammed

    14. Joan Okolo

  • Handball: Nigeria for IHF Challenge Trophy in Spain

    The Nigeria male handball team will battle for honours at the World Junior Championship, which comes up in Spain in July.

    Secretary-General of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Mohammed Maigidasanma, who disclosed, stated that the Nigerian team earned their spot at the championship after winning the African version last year.

    He also stated that the Under 18 team will play at the World Youth Championship in Macedonia in August.

    He noted that both teams would be ready for the tournaments as they hope to do Africa proud in Spain. “We were excited that the teams would be at World Championship to showcase Nigerian handball to fans.

    “When the qualifiers started last year in Niger Republic, the HFN ensured that the best players were assembled to deliver the tickets. Despite all odds, both teams qualified for the World event and hopefully they will do the country proud at the championship,” he added.

    He also said that the Nigerian teams would be ready for the qualifiers of the African Games in March at a yet to be announced March. The African Games comes up in September in Morocco.

    Speaking about some of the federation’s programme for the year, Maigidasanma said that the first phase of the Prudent Energy Handball League, would hold at the Velodrome in Abuja from March 30 to April 14. The venue hosted the handball event of the 2003 African Games, which was hosted in Abuja.

    According to him, the second phase of the League will hold later in the year in Lagos. He also said that Lagos would host the National U-18/21 Male and Female Handball Championship  from March 7-14, while National U12 and 15 will come up in August at a yet to be decided venue.

    “It is also exciting to note that handball will return to the velodrome in Abuja. The venue hosted the sport in 2003 when Nigeria hosted the African Games and I am sure clubs will be looking forward to play at the venue,” the Secretary General added.

  • IHF TROPHY: Double victory for Team Nigeria

    Nigeria Under 18 and 20 male teams have won the African leg of the IHF Challenge Trophy, which came to an end yesterday in Kigali, Rwanda.

    The under 18 team defeated Guinea 45-31, while the under 20 boys narrowly beat DR Congo 27-26 to emerge the continental champions. Both teams have qualified for the World Championship billed for Spain later this year and will also play at the Cadet and Junior Nations Cup in Marrakech, Morocco from September 6 to 15.

    The Secretary General of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mohammed Haruna Ilerika stated that the victories were results of hardwork and commended the players and technical crew for their industry.

    “The victories are result of hard work and determination on the part on the players, technical crew and awesome support of the HFN board.

    “At the inception of the board, we promised Nigerians not to judge us on short results but what we are able to do in the long run. The results on the short run are surprising and encouraging. We remain focused and steadfast in our resolve to put Nigeria handball on a high pedestal,” Ilerika added.

  • KSC host victorious athletes

    The Kwara Sports Council (KSC) on Tuesday hosted the athletes that did the state proud in the recent Handball and Squash competitions in Lagos.

    Speaking at the reception for the athletes in Ilorin, the Director of Sports, Tunde Kazeem, praised the athletes for their good performances, as well as being good ambassadors of the state.

    He thanked the state government for providing an enabling environment for the athletes and also urged individuals and corporate bodies to support sports.

    Kazeem also advised other associations to brace up, insisting that only vibrant athletes would represent the state at the upcoming Youth Games and the National Sports Festival in Abuja.

    He thanked the former chairmen of squash, handball, badminton, athletics and other associations for their support to their athletes.

    The Kwara director of sports disclosed that Saheed Shittu made Nigeria Handball team that beat Benin Republic in World Cup qualifier.

    He also poured encomium on Rukayat Oladunmoye, Musa Aminat and others that did the state proud in squash championship in Lagos.

    NAN

  • Nations Cup: Nigeria seek glory in Libreville

    Nations Cup: Nigeria seek glory in Libreville

     

    The Nigerian Men Handball team will begin its search for glory at the 23rd Handball Nations Cup when it takes on Angola today at the Le Palais des Sports de Libreville, Libereville, Gabon.

    Apart from the top prize at the championship, the three best teams will automatically qualify for the World Cup in Denmark and Germany.

    The Nigerian team that finished 10th in the last edition will have its hand full against an Angolan side that were third. The Angolans are one of the top sides in Africa and the Nigerian team that has had years of shambolic performance at the tournament, must be at its  best to upset the Angolans.

    What is heartwarming is the fact that the Sam Ocheho-led board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) put a programme in place to ensure that the players are at their peak when the competition starts Wednesday.

    The team which played series of games in Cotonou and ready to take on the rest of Africa will also take on Egypt, Congo DR and Morocco in the group games.

    In the last edition, the Nigerian team lost to Egypt, the eventual winners, in the group stage. This will be Nigeria’s 11th appearance at the competition and it is yet to win the championship.

    Undoubtedly, this is a tough group, but the handlers of the team are optimistic that the Nigerian team will do better in Gabon. Technical Director of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Ferdinand Emeana told NationSports before the team departed for Benin Republic that the team has the ability to spring surprises in Libreville.

    “I am aware that some teams are in Europe and other parts of the world preparing for the Nations Cup, but I am sure that we will make an impact in Gabon. This is the best training and screening exercise we have had in a long time and hopefully it will propel us to fantastic performances at the tournament,” Emeana added.

    The 16 players that will represent Nigeria are Adamolugbe Oladunjoye (Qatar), Ani Obinna (Morocco) and Kalu Philip (Israel), Joseph Udale, Adamu Aminu, Ogedegbe Chris, Amadi Emmanuel, Samuel Samora, Aliyu Aminu, Mudashiru Abdulmajid, Sallau Saka, Solomon Michael, Akande M Temitope, Emeana Emmanuel, Iortyer Stephen and Osas Michael.

    The team will be led by coaches Mgor Michael Taangahar (Head Coach), Solomon Yola (assistant coach) and Segun Tunji (goalkeeper trainer).

  • Lottery fund donates to Gombe schools

    Lottery fund donates to Gombe schools

    The National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF) has donated sports equipment to 54 primary schools in Gombe State. The equipment donated are for basketball, badminton, football, handball, high jump, judo, athletics and volleyball.

    The chief executive of NLTF Mr Habu Ahmed said the gesture was a follow-up to a similar one by the Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo who distributed sports equipment to 2,000 public primary schools nationwide on May 20.

    He said, “While urging you to put the equipment to good use in your schools, you must ensure the safekeeping of the equipment so that they do not get stolen, as we have already alerted security agencies to apprehend any culprit who diverts these Federal Government materials.

    “We don’t want to see any of these items in any market in Gombe State because they are not for sale. They are meant for the development of sports in the state. If you notice that the equipment is not in your school, ask your teachers: where is our sports equipment?”

    Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo who was represented by his Deputy, Charles Iliya, reinforced the warning, adding that the administration will not accept any act that will compromise the proper development of its children.

  • HANDBALL AFRICA NATIONS CUP: Nigeria fails to pick Olympic ticket

    HANDBALL AFRICA NATIONS CUP: Nigeria fails to pick Olympic ticket

    • Lose to Algeria 23–31

    The hope of Nigeria featuring in the handball event of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil was dashed after  the national handball team lost to Algeria 23–31 on Tuesday in the final Group A game of the 2016 African Men’s Handball Championship holding in Cairo Egypt.

    The Nigerian team are campaigning at the 22nd edition of the championship without head coach Fidelis Obi and his assistant as they could not make the trip because of the non availability of necessary fund.

    The championship for senior handball teams in Africa organised by the Confederation of Africa Handball (CAHB) will see the eventual champions automatically qualify for the summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, while the top three will qualify for next year’s World Men’s Handball Championship in France.

    Nigeria could only finish in the fifth position in the group as the top four teams; Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon progressed to the quarterfinal stage.

    Team Nigeria began their campaign on a shaky note losing to Cameroon 24-16 before suffering another defeat in the hands of host Egypt 20-34 in the second game. The team, however, recorded their first victory when they defeated another whipping team in the group, Gabon 31-30. Nigeria then lost 20-25 to Morocco before bowing to  defending champions, Algeria.

    Nigeria will today play Kenya who finished sixth in Group B in the  9–12th place semi-finals at the Cairo Stadium Indoor Halls Complex Hall 2 to determine their stand in the competition.

  • Women battle Handball Federation over ‘sexist’ rule

    Women battle Handball Federation over ‘sexist’ rule

    Women handball players in Spain are up in arms over a ‘sexist’ rule that stipulates that their midriffs must be exposed while playing on sand.

    European Handball Federation regulations also insist that bikini tops and bottoms should have a maximum width of 10 centimetres.

    The rules for male players are far less rigorous, with players allowed to wear clothing that is ‘loose and long’.

    The Basque Handball Association has made an official complaint to the European Commission about the regulations, according to The Local.

    The Basque Women’s Institute told the Spanish edition of Huffington Post that the rule seemed to be in place ‘so that girls’ bodies lure people to the sport’.

    The row flared up after the Spanish Handball Federation was told last weekend that 21 of 22 women’s teams playing in a tournament in Cantabria were wearing team kits that covered up the body too much, according to The Leader.

  • Handball federation wants follow-up programme for Youth Games’ athletes

    Handball federation wants follow-up programme for Youth Games’ athletes

    The President, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Yusuf Dauda, on Tuesday assured that the body would organise a follow-up programme for athletes identified at the just-concluded National Youth Games in Abuja.

    Dauda told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone that the scheme, proposed for 2014, would ensure that the upcoming players were nurtured to stardom.

    “I was particularly impressed by their performances at the Games, but there is need to also develop them with the technicalities, to further enhance their skills. This will be a key project next year, because we are very passionate about grassroots development, as they will, over time, replace the present junior players,’’ he said.

    Dauda also said that the training programmes would tally with the academic activities of the school calendar, to avoid any clash.

    “The people concerned are young secondary school students. So, we must have information of their academic activities, which will assist us to put up training schedules that will not disrupt their academics,’’ he said.

    According to him, it is important to assist the target group to develop their careers in handball, in a way that their academics would not suffer.

    “The idea is to encourage them in the sport that they have a flair for, and also ensure that they are committed to their education because both are very important in life.’’

    Dauda urged state associations to collaborate with school authorities in their various states, to build their academic schedules into their training plans in the sport.

  • Yusuf warns: Court litigation harming Handball development

    Yusuf warns: Court litigation harming Handball development

    The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dauda Yusuf has lamented that the current court litigation over his re-election is hampering the development of the sport in the country.

    Yusuf recently secured his second term in office as the boss of the HFN but a group known as Mega Veterans headed by a certain Mark Jacob and one of the opponents Yusuf defeated during the election, Rev Bamidele David have taken him to court seeking a nullification of his mandate.

    HFN President told SportingLife that the court case came to him as a big surprise at a time he was settling down .

    Yusuf however said he was hopeful that everything about the case would become history by October 15th when it is decided at an Abuja court.

    He appealed to them to sheath their sword in the interest of peace and Nigerian sports stating that the HFN has earmarked programmes that are aimed at changing the dwindling fortunes of the sport.

    “I have never said I am power drunk. It is only God that decided who leads. I won the election because of what we did during my first tenure. We are in the second term to right the wrong of that term but we have been dissuaded from doing that by court litigation.

    “The court will sit on October 15th and I hope it brings to the end the court cases against the federation. I stretched my hands of fellowship to all the defeated opponents at the conclusion of the election and I promised to run a broad-based administration. Court litigation won’t be good enough for HFN now. It will deter the growth of it. We have good programmes for Handball but our professed enemies won’t allow us work,” Yusuf told SportingLife.

    Handball was featured at the last National Sports Festival at Eko 2012 last December with Rivers winning the female and Lagos won in the male categories.