Nigeria U-18 Handball Team Begins Abidjan Mission with 23-Player Camp

Posted : 17 August 2026

Nigeria’s Under-18 Male Handball Team has commenced preparations for the 22nd African Cadets Men’s Championship, with 23 players currently in camp in Abuja ahead of the continental tournament in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Head Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu has assembled a squad spread across seven playing positions as the young players intensify their training under the guidance of the technical crew.

The camping programme is designed to sharpen the players’ fitness, technical skills, tactical understanding and team coordination as Nigeria prepares for a demanding continental assignment.

Nigeria has been drawn in Group B alongside Tunisia, Algeria and Madagascar in the championship, setting up a challenging route to the knockout stages.

Group A comprises Egypt, Cameroon and Congo, while Morocco, Libya and Rwanda are drawn in Group C. Group D features Guinea, hosts Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia and Burundi.

The Nigerian squad includes three goalkeepers — Shuaibu Fridaymicheal, Shuaibu Muhammad and Lawal Muhammad.

The centre-back options are Aliyu Rufai, Sani Muntari, Friday Pagiel and Sulaimon Abayomi Fashogbon, while Godstime Michael, Usman Umar and Samuel Achama are listed as left backs.

Huzaifa Abdulkadir, Obieze Akunebu, Gana Abubakar Tauhidi and Muhammed Yahaya provide options at right back.

The left-wing department consists of Chikelu Chidiebere Divine, Hamza Yahaya, Aminu Dahiru and Abdulrahman Sani, with Umar Mohammed, Abdullahi Abubakar and Zulkifilu Muhammed occupying the right-wing positions.

Akibu Muhammad and Dominion Abukhate complete the squad as the two pivots.

Yakubu will be assisted by Ayo Joshua as the coaching staff works to mould the players into a cohesive unit capable of competing effectively against the continent’s top young handball nations.

The championship, organised by the Confédération Africaine de Handball (CAHB), is expected to provide a major platform for the development of emerging talents while offering the players valuable international experience.

With the Nigerian contingent already in camp, the focus is now on building the team’s strength and tactical identity before its departure for Abidjan, where the young handball stars will begin their continental campaign.

Nigeria U-18 Male Handball Squad

Goalkeepers: Shuaibu Fridaymicheal, Shuaibu Muhammad, Lawal Muhammad.

Centre Backs: Aliyu Rufai, Sani Muntari, Friday Pagiel, Sulaimon Abayomi Fashogbon.

Left Backs: Godstime Michael, Usman Umar, Samuel Achama.

Right Backs: Huzaifa Abdulkadir, Obieze Akunebu, Gana Abubakar Tauhidi, Muhammed Yahaya.

Left Wings: Chikelu Chidiebere Divine, Hamza Yahaya, Aminu Dahiru, Abdulrahman Sani.

Right Wings: Umar Mohammed, Abdullahi Abubakar, Zulkifilu Muhammed.

Pivots: Akibu Muhammad, Dominion Abukhate.

Coaches: Abdulhakim Yakubu (Head Coach), Ayo Joshua (Assistant Coach).

Nigeria U-18 Handball Team Begins Abidjan Mission with 23-Player Camp

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics