Nigeria’s Senior Men’s Handball National Team, the Golden Arrows, will begin their 2026 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a high-profile clash against Algeria on January 21, 2026, at the 27th Men’s African Handball Nations Cup in Kigali, Rwanda. The tournament is scheduled to run from January 21 to 31, 2026.
This landmark edition marks the first time the prestigious continental championship will be hosted in East Africa. Beyond continental glory, the competition also serves as the primary qualification pathway to the 2027 IHF World Men’s Handball Championship in Germany.
Group A Showdown
Nigeria has been drawn into Group A, a highly competitive pool expected to deliver intense and thrilling encounters. The Golden Arrows will battle:
Algeria – Seven-time African champions and runners-up at the 2024 edition.
Rwanda – The ambitious host nation, making only their second appearance at the tournament.
Zambia – A rising force in Southern African handball.
Nigeria’s campaign will kick off at the state-of-the-art BK Arena, where they face continental heavyweights Algeria in their opening fixture.
At the conclusion of the group stage, the top two teams in Group A will progress to the Main Round (quarterfinals), while the remaining teams will compete in the Placement Round for the President’s Cup.
