Nigeria’s Under-18 women’s handball team have began intensive preparation ahead of the 2023 International Handball Federation (IHF) Trophy Africa Continental Phase which will hold in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d’Ivoire, from August 8th through to the 19th.
The players who have been through some conditioning since their arrival in camp, have commenced intensive routines,
at the Rowe Park Sports Center in Yaba, Lagos; under the tutelage of Coach Shittu Adewunmi Agboola, will be participating in the competition as Africa Zone 3 champion following their victory in the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 tourney held earlier this year in Ghana.
A large number of the players that participated in the Zonal Championship, are led by their captain Esther Mathew, the MVP of the tournament, and goalkeeper Samuel Precious from Rima Strikers of Sokoto, who was voted the best goalkeeper.
The team will battle other Under 18 teams from Guinea, Madagascar and Rwanda, at the Centre Ivoiro-Coréen Sports Hall in Abidjan, venue of the matches.
The winner of the competition will represent go on to Africa in the International phase of the IHF Trophy challenge.
*Names of Invited players*
1. ESTHER MATHEW – SEASIDER Babes
2. BABATUNDE TAIWO- SEASIDER Babes
3. BABATUNDE KEHINDE. – SEASIDER Babes
4. SAMUEL PRECIOUS – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
5. SAMUEL PRUDENCE – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
6. ONYEKWERE LUCY – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
7. BELLO RAHIMA. – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
8. KASIMU MUNIRA – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
9. AMINA MOHAMED. – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
10. OGBUSIMBA CHIDERA – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
11. OPARA MONICA – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
12. OPARAUGO AMARACHI – IMO GRASSHOPPER of Owerri
13. JOHN VERA – BAYELSA QUEENS of Yenagoa
14. OKOLO JOAN. – DELTA FORCE of Asaba
15. DAMILOLA AKINLADE – DELTA FORCE of Asaba
16. TERFA CYNTHIA – DE-DEFENDERS Babes of Abuja
17. MAHMUD AISHA – ADIJJA HBC COTONOU (Benin Republic)
18. OGUNWOLE TIMILEYIN – RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
19. MUNIRA MOHAMMED -RIMA QUEENS of Sokoto
OFFICIALS
1. AGBOOLA SHITTU ADEWUNMI – HEAD COACH (TOJEMARINE Academy)
2. ABDULLAHI SULEIMAN – ASSISTANT COACH
