Nigeria’s Senior Women, U-20 Men’s Handball Teams Step Up Preparations for Continental Championships

Nigeria’s Senior Women’s Handball Team and the National U-20 Men’s Handball Team have opened camp in the Nation’s capital, Abuja as they intensify preparations for two major continental championships scheduled for September 2026.

The Women’s team is preparing to compete at the Inaugural IHF Women’s Nations Trophy Africa Zone III, which will be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from September 2 to 6, 2026.

A 20-player squad has been assembled for the competition under the leadership of Head Coach Mike Taangahar, assisted by Innocent Chukwuma Nwankwo, while Grace Sha will oversee the team’s medical needs as physiotherapist.

Among the players in camp are Saaloo Daina, Haruna Kirnan Sunday, Chinemerem Grace Ahemefula, Aruwa Inikpi, Mohammed Balkisu, Queen Modebe, Johnson Winner, Mercy Audu, Ogbusimba Chidera, Oparoago Victoria Amarachi, Abubakar Sadiya, Amina Mohammed, Cynthia Terfa Doom, Helen Ogusakin, Esther Matthew, Taiye Babatunde, Plangnan Dakop, Ngaodurubie Chetachi Angela, Ada Okey and Emoure Enifome.

Also in camp is the National U-20 Men’s Handball Team, which has begun final preparations for the 33rd African Men’s Junior Nations Championship scheduled to hold in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from September 5 to 12, 2026.

Nigeria has won the competition once when they hosted in 1980 in Lagos and have finished on the podium thrice, finishing in second place when they also hosted the competition in Bauchi in 1984 and finishing third twice in Cotonou, Benin Republic in 1984 and in Marrakech, Morocco in 2018 respectively.

Head Coach Emmanuel David and Assistant Coach Tunde Cole are overseeing the training programme, with a 17-man squad currently undergoing intensive sessions in Abuja.

The players are Goalkeeper Obabori Samuel Aduralere, Iorngohol Amos, Ganiu Aduragbemi Emmanuel, Kazeem Faruk Olamilekan, Akanni Olayinka, Fashogbon Duleimom, Mohammed Musa, Jackson Nelson, Abode O. Temitope, Ibrahim Hayayu, Okolie Olisaemeka Andrew, Abaaka Simon, Mustapha Muhammed, Egwele Emmanuel, Oladeinde Oluwasegun, Yusuf Suleiman and Chuks Moses.

Both teams are expected to undergo rigorous technical, tactical and physical training during the camping exercise as they fine-tune their preparations ahead of their respective championships.

The two national sides will be aiming to deliver strong performances and reinforce Nigeria’s growing reputation in African handball when they take to the courts in Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire next month.

PLAYERS IN CAMP

WOMEN

1. Saaloo Daina
2. Haruna Kirnan Sunday
3. Chinemerem Grace Ahemefula
4. Aruwa Inikpi
5. Mohammed Balkisu
6. Queen Modebe
7. Johnson Winner
8. Mercy Audu
9. Ogbusimba Chidera
10. Oparoago Victoria Amarachi
11. Abubakar Sadiya
12. Amina Mohammed
13. Cynthia Terfa Doom
14. Helen Ogusakin
15. Esther Matthew
16. Taiye Babatunde
17. Plangnan Dakop
18. Ngaodurubie Chetachi Angela
19. Ada Okey
20. Emoure Enifome

National Women Team Officials
1. Mike Taangahar – Head Coach
2. Innocent Chukwuma Nwankwo – Assistant Head Coach

Physiotherapist
1. Grace Sha

U-20 MALE
1. Obabiri Samuel Aduralere
2. Iorngohol Amos
3. Ganiu Aduragbemi Emmanuel
4. Kazeem Faruk OIamilekan
5. Akanni Olayinka
6. Fashogbon Duleimom
7. Mohammed Musa
8. Jackson Nelson
9. Abode O. Temitope
10. Ibrahim Hayayu
11. Okolie Olisaemeka Andrew
12. Abaaka Simon
13. Mustapha Muhammed
14. Egwele Emmanuel
15. Oladeinde Oluwasegun
16. Yusuf Suleiman
17. Chuks Moses

U-20 Officials
1. Emmanuel David – Head Coach
2. Tunde Cole – Assistant Head Coach