Nigeria’s U-18 Handball Queens Land in Algeria for African Championship
Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team has touched down in Oran, Algeria, for the 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship, which kicks off from September 14 to 21.
The young Queens, led by head coach John Uzor, had been camping and fine-tuning their strategies at the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba, Lagos, before making the trip. Their mission is clear—secure a place on the podium and book a ticket to the 2026 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship.
Coach Uzor, brimming with confidence, highlighted the team’s determination:
> “The previous set came third two years ago, so expectations are high. We either surpass that or maintain the standard. With more countries competing this year, we’ve been working hard to prepare the girls to do even better.”
He further emphasized their ultimate goal:
> “Five teams will qualify for the World Cup, and I’m convinced we’ll be among them. Even if we don’t win a medal, qualifying for the World Cup is non-negotiable.”
Group Battles Ahead
Nigeria has been drawn into Group A alongside Angola, Tunisia, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Madagascar. Meanwhile, hosts Algeria will compete in Group B with defending champions Egypt, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Zambia.
The competition will be staged across two prestigious venues—the 7,000-capacity Miloud Hadefi Complex Arena and the 5,000-seater Hamou Boutlelis Sports Palace.
Chasing History
Nigeria heads into the tournament on the back of a strong outing at the 2023 edition in Monastir, Tunisia, where they clinched bronze by defeating three-time champions Angola 28–24. With that pedigree, the team is determined to not just repeat history but carve out a bigger success story in Oran.
The 2025 Championship also doubles as qualifiers for both the 2026 World Cup and the IHF Women’s Intercontinental Phase, raising the stakes even higher.