Nigeria U-20 and U-18 Teams Shine at IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3, Faruk Kareem, Aliyu Rufai Named MVPs
Nigeria’s men’s handball teams made a strong start at the IHF Trophy Africa Zone 3 tournament in Lomé, Togo, with both the Under-20 and Under-18 sides recording impressive victories on Wednesday.
The Under-20 team, coached by David Emmanuel, began their campaign with a composed 23-18 win over Burkina Faso.
Nigeria led 12-8 at halftime and maintained control in the second half to secure the result. Faruk Kareem’s standout performance earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Meanwhile, the Under-18 side, guided by Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu, continued their winning run with a convincing 30-19 triumph over Niger Republic.
Nigeria held a narrow 12-10 lead at halftime but produced a dominant second-half display, combining sharper attacking play with improved defensive organisation.
Aliyu Rufai was named MVP after playing a pivotal role in the victory.
Both teams have now built momentum in the tournament organised by the International Handball Federation, strengthening their chances of advancing to the next stage.
