Nigeria Secures Spot in IHF Trophy Africa Men Continental Final with Victory Over Cameroon

Nigeria’s men’s handball team has earned a place in the final of the IHF Trophy Africa Men Continental Phase following a hard-fought 44-33 win against Cameroon in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. With this victory, Nigeria, the defending champions, will now face Guinea in the championship game on Wednesday at 3:00 pm Nigeria time.

The team, led by Coach Emeka Nnamani, showed resilience and skill against a determined Cameroonian side. From the opening whistle, Nigeria took control, overcoming Cameroon’s defensive tactics by capitalizing on fast-break opportunities and accurate wing shots. By halftime, the team held a comfortable 22-15 lead, setting the stage for a strong finish.

In the second half, Nigeria continued to dominate, with left-back Christian Foloki Bolaji playing a standout role. Foloki showcased his scoring prowess with crucial goals from the 9-meter line and the wings, helping his team secure a 44-33 victory. Despite suffering an injury in the final minute following a collision with Cameroon’s goalkeeper, Foloki’s outstanding performance earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title for the match.

Reflecting on the win, Coach Nnamani praised his team for their determination. "I am very excited that we did enough to defeat Cameroon in the semifinal," he told HFN Media. "I want to praise the boys for doing everything humanly possible and fighting hard against Cameroon. Now, we will make sure we do our best in the final to qualify for the Intercontinental phase."

Nigeria will now face Guinea in the final, aiming to retain their title and advance to the Intercontinental phase of the IHF Trophy. Fans are eagerly anticipating another strong performance from the team as they look to bring home the trophy.