Nigeria’s Handball Men’s Team In Camp In Abuja Ahead of Africa Handball Nations Cup In Rwanda
Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Handball Team, the Golden Arrows, has opened camp in Abuja as preparations intensify for the Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup, scheduled to hold in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 21 to 31, 2026.
The continental nations cup, will also serve as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 World Men’s Handball Championship, with the top five nations earning automatic qualification to the global showpiece.
In Group B, Nigeria will battle host nation Rwanda, seven-time African champions Algeria, and Zambia in what promises to be a highly competitive group.
Nigeria has featured in the Africa Handball Nations Cup 15 times since first qualifying for the championship in Tunisia in 1974 with best performance being a 4th-place finish in 1998 in South Africa
As of Friday, December 27, 2025, Seventeen players from the 24 invited players have already reported to camp at the Indoor Sports Hall, Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja and commenced intensive training sessions focused on tactical execution, physical conditioning and team chemistry while others are expected to arrive at the latest, on Tuesday.
The list of invited players reflects a blend of home-based talents and foreign-based professionals, a move expected to boost the team’s competitiveness in Kigali.
Among the notable foreign-based invitees is back-right player Farouk Yusuf, who plies his trade in France, bringing valuable European experience to the Golden Arrows.
He is joined by Rotimi Gbenga and Akeem Salami, both based in Morocco, as well as Daniel Bello, a pivot player currently playing in Turkey.
The goalkeeping department also boasts international exposure with top goalkeeper Olatunde Adams, who plies his trade in Qatar, Michael Ogbaji and Mohammed Abbas who play in Cotonou, Benin Republic alongside Okwor Obinna who plays COAS Shooters of the Nigeria Army, ensuring healthy competition between the posts.
Other players includes John Shagari, Nasiru Hassan, Safety Shooters and Mohammed Adam of Corrections Boys who are expected to provide depth, while the centre back position is strengthened by Ibrahim Dikko (Cotonou) and Farouk Kazeem (Tojemarine).
The pivot and wing positions equally feature a strong mix of talent, with players like Sessugh Stephen, James Korede Kuti and Ibrahim Adio as well as wingers Anas Mohammed, Kareem Ajibike, Mustapha Mohammed and Abubakar Ahmed, combining speed, power and finishing ability.
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has also maintained a strict stance on discipline, with the President of the Federation, Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih (FNSQ) approving a directive that all remaining invited players must report to camp latest on Tuesday or risk being excluded from the final squad for the championship.
The Golden Arrows are under the technical leadership of Head Coach Rafiu Salami, assisted by Innocent Nwankwo Chukwuma of Safety Shooters and Emmanuel David, with the coaching crew placing strong emphasis on tactical discipline, match fitness and mental preparedness ahead of the Nations Cup.
List of Invited Players For Africa Handball Nations Cup
Gk
1. Olatunde Adams – Qatar
2. Michael Ogbaji – Cotonou
3. Okwor Obinna – Coas
4. Mohammed Abbas – Cotonou
Back Left
5. John Shagari – Cotonou
6. Nasiru Hassan – FRSC
7. Mohammed Adam – Corrections
Back Right
8. Yusuf Faruk – France
9. Rotibi Gbenga – Morocco
Centre Back
10. Akeem Salami – Morocco
11. Ibrahim Dikko – Cotonou
12. Farouk Kazeem – Jojemarine
Pivot
13. Sessugh Stephen – Cotonou
14. Daniel Bello – Turkey
15. James Kuti Korede – Tojemarine
16. Ibrahim Adio – Cotonou
Left Wing
17. Anas Mohammed – Cotonou
18. Kareem Ajibike – Cotonou
19. Mustapha Mohammed – Sokoto
20. Abubakar Ahmed – Sokoto
Right Wing
21. Azeez Suleiman – France
22. Cole Gbenga – Morocco
23. Mustapha Mohammed – Sokoto
24. Atabo Abdullahi – Cotonou
