The head coach of Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team, Mr. Shittu Agboola has appealed to the sports ministry for support as they prepare for the upcoming Women’s U-18 Handball Championship in China.
The 10th edition scheduled to take place from August 14th to 25th in Chuzhou will see the Nigeria Team face Croatia, Montenegro, and Angola in Group B. The Nigeria team is facing Angola again after defeating them in the third-place match of the 2023 Africa U-18 Women’s Handball Championship in Monastir, Tunisia Despite acknowledging the tough competition ahead, Agboola remains optimistic about Nigeria’s prospects, citing their recent successes and strategic prowess. With Nigeria ranking as the second-best team globally at the IHF Women’s Trophy 2023/24, Agboola believes his team can navigate through the group stage.
Speaking to AAN, he said “We respect teams but we are not afraid of any team as we have the best strategy that we will use to curtail them,” emphasizing Nigeria’s steady progress in handball. He highlighted the support from the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) in shaping a competitive team that has consistently performed well in tournaments since 2023. Agboola’s immediate goal is to secure qualification from the group stage, underscoring the importance of adequate preparation for such a prestigious event. He called upon the Ministry of Sports to extend their support to the team, stressing the significance of financial assistance and prolonged training camps.
Nigeria’s qualification for the World Championship marks a historic milestone for the U-18 women’s handball team. Their journey began with a victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals of the Africa U-18 Women’s Handball Championship in Monastir, Tunisia, followed by a commendable third-place finish in the Nations Cup after defeating Angola.
The team’s impressive performance extended to the IHF Women’s Trophy, where they dominated the Africa Zone 3 phase and continental phase in Ghana and Congo Brazzaville respectively. Despite falling short against Kosovo in the final of the IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase in Uzbekistan, Nigeria secured a remarkable second-place finish in the global championship.
