The newly elected President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mr. Jibril Ojih Saidu, FNIQS, recently paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Confederation of African Handball (CAHB), Dr. Mansourou Aremou in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
During the high-level meeting, Mr. Jibril Ojih Saidu expressed profound appreciation to the Confederation of African Handball (CAHB) for the inclusion of Nigeria’s Men’s Senior National Team in the forthcoming 2026 African Cup of Nations. It will be recalled that an earlier publication by CAHB had initially omitted Nigeria from the final list of participating nations for the African Championship, scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, from January 21 to 31, 2026. However, following the timely intervention of Mr. Saidu, the CAHB Executive Committee has exceptionally approved the registration of Nigeria’s Men’s Senior National Team for the competition.
The HFN President also used the opportunity to request capacity-building programs for Nigerian coaches and referees, emphasizing the need for technical education and continuous training to strengthen the sport’s foundation in the country.
Furthermore, Mr. Saidu sought collaboration with CAHB to enhance grassroots handball development, particularly within schools and youth structures across Nigeria. He reiterated HFN’s commitment to reviving the sport nationwide and ensuring sustainable progress through international partnerships.
In response, Dr. Aremou warmly welcomed the HFN delegation and confirmed Nigeria’s inclusion in the list of participating nations for the 2026 African Cup of Nations. He also pledged CAHB’s full support for Nigeria’s developmental initiatives, promising to work closely with the federation to achieve its outlined objectives.
The HFN President was accompanied on the visit by Alhaji Hussaini, a board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria representing the North East zone.
The meeting signifies a renewed era of cooperation between Nigeria and the continental handball governing body, a bold move that will set the stage for accelerated growth and global competitiveness in Nigerian handball.
