Nigeria’s under-18 Women Handball Team on Saturday in Monastir, Tunisia, defeated their Angola counterparts 28-24 in the third place match of the ongoing Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship.
Having lost the semi final game against Egypt, the national under 18 women handball team knew they needed to play with their heart out to finish as the third best team in the championship and they started like a house on fire and determination which ensured they won the first half 12-7 .
The Angolans, who were one of the favourites to win the competition, came back smoking in the second half but Coach Shittu Adewunmi Agboola’s tutored team held strong to win the match 28-24 and get the bronze medal as well taking a major scalp of a big team in Africa Women handball.
It would be recalled that Nigeria secured one of the four slots allocated to Africa for the World Championship after defeating Morocco in the quarter-finals.
They are the Nigerian U-18 women’s handball team to feature in this tournament since 2000.
Also, the first U-18 women’s handball team, since 2000, to make a podium finish.
At the 2000 edition, Nigeria finished second after losing to Côte d’Ivoire in the final.
In their first group game, they defeated Algeria 28-18 and lost to Guinea 23-20 in their second game.
However, they bounced back from the defeat to Guinea with a 28-20 win against hosts Tunisia in their final group game.
Meanwhile, in the final match, defending champion, Egypt retained their title as they comfortably defeat surprise finalist, Guinea 29-16 to be crowned champion of the 2023 Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship.
The Shittu Agboola tutored side will arrive Nigeria on Monday.
Sportsbeep 