Handball
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, Sept. 14, 2018 (NAN) The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has described the national male junior team’s victory in the just-concluded CAHB Africa Junior Youth Championship as a defining moment for Nigeria’s handball.
The HFN President, Samuel Ocheho, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the team’s victory was an evidence of the overhaul and programmes injected into the game by the new board.
NAN reports that the national male junior team defeated Angola 33-26 in the final of the CAHB-organised championships held in Marrakech, Morocco from Sept. 7 to Sept. 14.
“Handball has been in the doldrums for a while which affected our performances in continental and international competitions before we came on board and things began to turnaround.
“We injected programmes in all categories as part of our agenda which is instrumental to the defeat of Angola by Nigeria yesterday in Marrakech, it’s indeed a defining moment for Nigeria handball.
“The handball family and Nigeria at large are happy with the boys, they have done marvellously well, we are proud of them and glad to identity with the victorious outing,’’ he said.
He said the team’s overall performance in Morocco and Kigali championships have raised questions from the continent’s nations as they wondered where Nigeria had been for a while.
“Last month, our U-18 trashed its Guinean counterpart 45-31 points and U-20 defeated DR Congo 27-26 in the final and emerged champions of the continental championship; Nigeria’s handball is back for real.
“African handball playing nations are asking where were these players and Nigeria been all these while due to performances, so for me, it’s a testament to success since we came on board.
“Myself and the entire board members are excited about this result because we have been working together to give the players the needed support to get along,’’ he added.
The HFN boss expressed the board’s determination to continuously do the needful, churn out talents with its developmental programmes and create an enabling environment to enhance their skills.
Ocheho said he was optimistic that the team’s victory would go a long way to give Nigeria its rightful place in the handball community even beyond the continent.
NAN reports that Nigeria with Egypt and Tunisia have qualified to represent Africa in the 2019 International Handball Federation (IHF) World Junior Championships billed for Spain. (NAN)
MIL/FF/PDE
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(Edited by Fela Fashoro/Peter Ejiofor)