The coaching crew of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have unveiled the final rosters of 14 players each ahead of the 2024 IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from April 20 to 24.
Both squads, after nearly two weeks of intensive preparation at the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba, Lagos, departed for the West African championship on Thursday.
For the U-18 side, head coach John Uzor has selected standout players including Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister, Omole Shola.
Also making the final list are Ojie Princess from Funad Academy, right back Faisat Balogun, as well as COAS Babes duo Success Duru and Chetachi Ngaodurubie. Sharon Okonkwo also earned her place among the selected players.
On the U-20 front, coach Shittu Agboola has opted to stick with a core group of players he’s nurtured since their U-18 days. Leading the squad is captain Chidera Ogbusimba of Rima Queens, who is joined by her clubmates, the Samuel Sisters, as well as Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Rahima Bello, currently based in Israel, retains her spot on the team, alongside Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC in Benin Republic, and fellow Benin-based player Esther Mathew.
Coach Shittu expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to shine on the continental stage, despite the absence of a key player.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events.
“Regardless, we still have the core of the team and I believe we’ll do well at the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase Championship in Abidjan,” he said.
In the group stage, Nigeria’s U-18 team will compete in Group A alongside Ghana, Togo, and Burkina Faso. The U-20 team, meanwhile, finds itself in Group B with Benin Republic and Togo.
All matches are scheduled to be played at the Salle Polyvalente des Parcs de Sport de Treichville (Multipurpose Sports Hall), in Abidjan.
