Nigeria finishes third at ANOCA Games

The coach Yusuf Abdukadir tutored team comfortably defeated Ghana 29-16 in the third place match to earn the bronze medal.

Nigeria played two matches in the preliminary stage on Wednesday, winning one and losing the other to Benin Republic and Ivory Coast respectively which ensured they meet Ghana, who had lost to Burkina Faso 27-22 before defeating Togo 36-19 in the preliminary stage. 

Ivory Coast won the gold medal after defeating Burkina Faso 28-16.

Nigeria women's national handball team had a mixed day of fortune as they played two matches at the ANOCA Games in Lome, Togo, defeating Benin Republic and losing to Ivory Coast on Wednesday.

Led by Coach Yusuf Abdukadir, Nigeria entered their first game against Benin Republic with all seriousness, winning the first half 16-9 before comfortably finishing the match with a 30-24 victory.

Less than two hours later, Nigeria played against a fresh Ivory Coast side and the fatigue from the previous match set in the first half with Nigeria losing 14-6 and then losing the match 34-20.

The ANOCA games, organized by the Association of National Olympics Committee of Africa in each sporting zone of the continent, is to prepare teams ahead of the All Africa Games which will be held in Ghana in 2024 and Nigeria is participating in the Zone 3 handball event to prepare ahead of the All Africa games.