…Teams Arrive Host City for Championship Showdown
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has successfully conducted its technical meeting ahead of the 2026 National Under-12 and Under-15 Handball Championship, scheduled to commence on March 25 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Umuahia Township Stadium, Abia State.
The crucial pre-competition meeting brought together federation officials, coaches, referees, and team representatives to deliberate on key organizational and regulatory frameworks for the championship, which is being hosted in collaboration with the Abia State Government.
Delivering the President’s address, HFN Vice President, Otunba Sylvester Ikuejamoye, reiterated the federation’s zero-tolerance stance on indiscipline and rule violations. Speaking on behalf of HFN President, Mr. Jibril Ojih Saidu (FNIQS), he stressed that compliance with regulations is essential to achieving a high-quality and credible championship.
“The screening process will be rigorous. We are committed to fairness and integrity, even if it means disqualifying teams that fail to meet the criteria,” Ikuejamoye added, while calling on all stakeholders to cooperate fully with the federation.
He further underscored that players who have previously featured in Division One or the Ardova Handball Premier League are ineligible to participate, noting that the competition is designed strictly as a developmental platform for nurturing young talents and building a formidable national cadet team.
In his own opening remarks, HFN Technical Director, Coach Bala Mohammed, conducted a roll call to confirm the participation of registered teams before formally welcoming attendees. He emphasized strict adherence to the rules and regulations guiding the competition, warning that any coach, player, or official found violating established standards would face appropriate sanctions.
Chairman of the Competition Organizing Committee, Alhaji Husseini Mohammed Abdulkadiri, reiterated the federation’s readiness to deliver a seamless championship, highlighting the partnership with NIMC as a critical step toward eliminating age fraud.
Also speaking at the meeting, Chief Onyebuchi Emmanuel Asogwa, South-East Zonal Representative on the HFN Board, welcomed participants and wished all teams a peaceful and successful stay in Umuahia.
On behalf of the host state, Comrade Obioma George, Director of Sports at the Abia State Sports Council, warmly received the HFN delegation and participating teams. He assured stakeholders of the state’s preparedness, noting that adequate accommodation, transportation, and logistics have been put in place to ensure the comfort and smooth movement of athletes and officials between the Games Village and the competition venue.
Further outlining the competition format, the Technical Director confirmed that matches will be played using a round-robin system in line with international standards, with emphasis placed on grassroots development rather than mere competition outcomes.
It was also resolved that player screening would commence at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, with the competition proper set to begin immediately after the exercise.
With teams already arriving in Umuahia and final preparations in place, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a highly competitive and development-focused championship aimed at shaping the future of handball in Nigeria.
