By: Chinedum Ohanusi
Nigeria’s Under-18 men’s handball team, will contest the 2024 final of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy Africa Men’s Continental Phase, after a closely-fought 43-33 victory over Cameroun, in one of the semi-finals of the tournament, played yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Nigeria as defending champions, having won the last edition in Congo Brazaville; had recorded emphatic victories over Zambia, and the host nation Ethiopia, in the pool phase of the tournament, before the last four tie against Cameroun, and it turned out to be the fiercest game they had, enroute to the final.
Against a defensively minded Cameroun side, Coach Emeka Nnamani tweaked their tactics a bit, by launching sporadic attacks from the first blast of the whistle, and that made it possible to score freely from the wings and fast-breaks through the centre; and they eventually led the physicaly strong Camerounians 22-15 at the interval.
The second half was basically the Christian Foloki Bolaji show, as the enterprising left-back pulled the strings, and dictated proceedings with vital goals from the 9 meters, and also from the wings as Nigeria wrapped up a 44-33 victory, to punch one of the two tickets to the final.
Foloki, who got injured after an accidental collision with the opposing goalkeeper in the very last minute of the match, was deservedly voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the semi-final.
Speaking to HFN Media after the match, Coach Emeka Nnamani praised his players for their fighting spirit, matching the physical attributes of the Camerounians, and outscoring them to reach the final, for the second time in two years.
“I am very excited that we did enough to defeat a very good side like Cameroun in the semi-final. I want to praise the boys for standing them toe-to-toe, and earning our place in the final.”
Nnamani added that the players are being reminded of the need to remain focused, as they have to be at their individual best, and as a team, to be able to beat Guinea in the final, and qualify for the Intercontinental phase.
The Nigeria versus Guinea final is scheduled to throw off today, at 3pm Nigerian time.
