Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Handball Team, the Golden Arrows, have commenced camping in Abuja as preparations intensify for the 2026 Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup scheduled to hold in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 21 to 31.
The continental championship will also serve as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship, with the top five teams securing automatic tickets to the global showpiece.
Nigeria has been drawn in a challenging Group B alongside host nation Rwanda, seven-time African champions Algeria, and Zambia, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive group phase in Kigali.
As of Friday, December 27, 2025, seventeen players out of the twenty-four invited had reported to camp at the Indoor Sports Hall, Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Training sessions are already in full swing, with a strong focus on tactical execution, physical conditioning, and team chemistry. The remaining invited players are expected to arrive no later than Tuesday.
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has underlined its commitment to discipline, with federation president, Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih (FNSQ), approving a directive that any invited player who fails to report to camp by the stated deadline risks exclusion from the final squad.
The provisional list reflects a deliberate blend of home-based players and foreign-based professionals, aimed at strengthening the team’s competitiveness. Among the standout foreign-based invitees is back-right player Farouk Yusuf, who plays his club handball in France. He is joined by Morocco-based Rotimi Gbenga and Akeem Salami, as well as pivot Daniel Bello, who currently features in the Turkish league.
The goalkeeping department boasts significant international exposure, led by Qatar-based Olatunde Adams, alongside Michael Ogbaji and Mohammed Abbas from Cotonou, Benin Republic, and Okwor Obinna of COAS Shooters of the Nigerian Army.
Other players expected to add depth to the squad include John Shagari, Nasiru Hassan, and Mohammed Adam, while the centre-back position is reinforced by Ibrahim Dikko of Cotonou and Farouk Kazeem of Tojemarine. The pivot and wing positions also feature a strong mix of speed, power, and finishing ability, with players such as Sessugh Stephen, James Korede Kuti, Ibrahim Adio, Anas Mohammed, Kareem Ajibike, Mustapha Mohammed, and Abubakar Ahmed.
Nigeria has featured at the Africa Handball Nations Cup on 15 occasions since making their debut in Tunisia in 1974, with their best performance being a fourth-place finish at the 1998 edition in South Africa. The current camp represents another opportunity for the Golden Arrows to build on that history and challenge Africa’s elite.
The team is under the technical leadership of Head Coach Rafiu Salami, assisted by Innocent Nwankwo Chukwuma and Emmanuel David. The coaching crew is placing strong emphasis on tactical discipline, match fitness, and mental preparedness as the countdown to the Nations Cup continues.
With preparations now underway and competition for places intensifying, the Golden Arrows will be aiming to peak at the right time as they set their sights on making a strong impression in Rwanda and securing a return to the world stage.
