Nigeria’s Teams Begin African Campaigns as Women Face Ghana, U-20 Men Meet Algeria

Posted : 03 September 2026

Nigeria’s senior women’s handball team and national Under-20 men’s side are set to begin their respective continental campaigns this week. The women will compete in the inaugural IHF Women’s Nations Trophy Africa Zone III in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, while the U-20 men will contest the 33rd African Men’s Junior Nations Championship in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The senior women will open their campaign against Ghana on Thursday, September 3, in Ouagadougou. The match is scheduled for 6 p.m., with Nigeria facing hosts Burkina Faso at the same time on Friday, September 4.

The tournament is scheduled for September 2 to 6 and marks the first edition of the IHF Women’s Nations Trophy Africa Zone III. Nigeria’s squad has been preparing at the Indoor Sports Hall of Package B at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja under head coach Michael Taangahar.

As part of their preparations, the Nigerian women travelled to Cotonou, Benin Republic, for friendly matches before heading to Burkina Faso. The coaching staff will hope the extended training camp and preparatory games have equipped the team for the demanding competition.

Nigeria will face strong regional opposition in Ouagadougou. Hosts Burkina Faso and Ghana are also in Group A, with the leading teams expected to advance to the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Under-20 men’s team will begin its campaign at the African Men’s Junior Nations Championship in Abidjan on Saturday, September 5. The tournament will run until September 12, with Nigeria drawn in Group B alongside two-time champions Algeria, Angola and Madagascar.

Nigeria will face Algeria in its opening match at 3 p.m. The young side will then meet Angola the following day before completing its group-stage schedule against Madagascar on Tuesday at noon.

Head coach Emmanuel David has selected a 16-man squad for the competition. The team has also been conducting intensive preparations at the Indoor Sports Hall of Package B in Abuja ahead of its departure for Côte d’Ivoire.

Nigeria has a strong history at the African junior championship. The country won the inaugural edition in Lagos in 1980 and later finished as runners-up in Bauchi in 1984, while also claiming bronze medals in Cotonou and Marrakech in 2018.

Both Nigerian teams therefore enter their respective tournaments with clear targets. The senior women will seek a strong start against Ghana, while the U-20 men face an immediate test against experienced Algerian opposition as Nigeria looks to make an impact on the African handball stage.

Nigeria’s Teams Begin African Campaigns as Women Face Ghana, U-20 Men Meet Algeria

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