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 hold from April 7 to 11, 2026.
Both teams touched down in high spirits following weeks of intensive camping, during which emphasis was placed on tactical discipline, physical conditioning, and team cohesion in readiness for the regional championship.
Organised by the (IHF), the competition serves as a critical developmental platform for emerging talents across the region. Winners in both the Youth (Under-18) and Junior (Under-20) categories will earn the right to represent Zone 3 at the continental phase of the tournament.
Following the official draw, Nigeria’s Under-18 team has been placed in Group B alongside Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, while Group A comprises 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. Group A includes Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Niger.
U-18 Team List
The Youth team features: 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.
Officials: Abdulhakim Yakubu, Ayo Joshua
U-20 Team List
The Junior squad boasts a formidable lineup: 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).
Officials: David Emmanuel (Head Coach), Cole Olatunde (Assistant Coach)
With the group stage fixtures now confirmed and both teams settled in Lomé, attention shifts to the opening matches as Nigeria targets dominant performances and progression into the latter stages of the competition.
The IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 continues to provide a vital pathway for the development of young African handball talents. For Nigeria, the mission remains clear: secure qualification and proudly represent the zone at the continental level.
