Izuchukwu Okosi
The final batch of 18 Nigerian players travelling for the U-18 Men’s IHF Handball Trophy Intercontinental Championship in San Jose, Costa Rica left the shores of Nigeria Sunday evening.
The players rounded off their preparations at the Rowe Park Sports Centre with the first batch having departed on Saturday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelMany of the players were the core of the team that participated in the Africa Zone 3 tournament in Ivory Coast and the continental tournament in Congo Brazzaville.
Nigeria, who are the Africa champions in the U-18 male category, are participating in the championship for the second time in history after they finished second in the 2019 edition which held in Pristina, Kosovo. Nigeria lost slimly to Chinese Taipei 27-26 in the final.
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The Coach Emeka Nnamani tutored side will be playing in a round robin competition against the likes of Georgia, Guadaloupe, Nicaragua and Tahiti with the first match to be played on the March 8, 2023 against Nicaragua. The opening match of the championship will be between Nicaragua and Georgia on March 7.
Nigeria had qualified for the IHF Trophy Intercontinental 2023 after defeating Guinea 37-36 in the final of the IHF Trophy Continental Phase which held in Brazzaville, Congo earlier in the year.
Before then they played in the Africa Zone 3 tournament of the competition in Ivory Coast defeating everyone and they are unbeaten in the championship since losing to Chinese Taipei in the 2019 edition of the Intercontinental championship in Kosovo.
Final list of players for IHF Trophy Intercontinental Championship in San Jose, Costa Rica are:
Kareem Faruk
Kuti Akorade
Sulaiman Azeez
Faloki Christian
Obabori Samuel
Mukiala Fuad
7.! Mohammed Mustapha.
Shagari John.
Sulaiman Sani
Tahir lawal
Ajibike Kareem
Ojo Oluwagbanga
Isiyaka Mustapha.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
