Nigeria’s Under-18 and Under-20 men’s national handball teams have arrived in Lomé, Togo, ahead of the 2026 IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 Tournament, scheduled to take place from April 7 to 11, 2026.
Both teams arrived in high spirits after weeks of intensive camping, with a strong focus on tactical discipline, physical conditioning, and team cohesion in preparation for the regional championship.
Organised by the International Handball Federation (IHF), the tournament serves as a key developmental platform for emerging talents across the region. Winners in both the Youth (Under-18) and Junior (Under-20) categories will qualify to represent Zone 3 at the continental stage of the competition.
Following the official draw, Nigeria’s Under-18 team has been placed in Group B alongside Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Group A consists of Ghana, hosts Togo, and Ivory Coast.
In the Junior (Under-20) category, Nigeria is also drawn in Group B, where they will face Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, while Group A features Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Niger.
U-18 Team List
The Youth squad includes: Friday Shuaibu, Shaibu Mohammed, Aliyu Rufai, Sani Muntari, Usman Umar, Godstime Michael, Huzaifa Abdulkadir, Chidebere Davine, Hamza Yahaya, Mohammed Yahaya, Umar Mohammed, Abubakar Abdullahi, Akibu Mohammed, and Obeze Akunebu.
U-20 Team List
The Junior team features: Attahiru Ab Sahabi (Sokoto Rima), Obabori Samuel Aduralere (Adjidja HB Cotonou), Ganiu Aduragbemi Emmanuel (Tojemarine HB), Kareem Faruk Olamilekan (Tojemarine HB), Akanni Basit (Lagos Seasiders), Mohammed Musa (Safety Shooters), Jackson Nelson (Adamawa Warriors), Chuks Moses Egwuelu (Safety Shooters), Okolie Olisaemeka Andrew (Tojemarine), Yusuf Suleiman (Sokoto Rima), Abaaka Simon (Safety Shooters), Suleiman Sani (Flowers HB Cotonou), Mustapha Mohammed (Sokoto Rima), and Isyaka Mustapha (Flowers HB Cotonou).
With group stage fixtures confirmed and both teams settled in Lomé, attention now turns to the opening matches as Nigeria aims for strong performances and progression to the knockout stages.
