HANDBALL: Nigeria to face Tunisia at Africa youth championships opener
Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Handball team will begin their campaign at the 22nd Africa Men’s Youth Handball Championship with a clash against Tunisia on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The match will take place at the Palais des Sports in Abidjan; the venue that just successfully hosted the 33rd Africa Men’s Junior Handball Championship wherein Nigeria’s Under 20 side finished with a bronze medal; with the Under 18 side led by Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu, looking to make a strong start to their campaign in the continental championship.
Nigeria and former champions Tunisia are drawn in Group B alongside Algeria and Madagascar, setting the stage for a competitive group phase.
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The Nigerian team, led by Coach Abdulhakim Yakubu, will be hoping to secure a positive result against the North Africans before facing their other group opponents Algerian and Madagascar.
Nigeria has never won the continental championship at this level as they finished second behind champion Benin Republic to earn second in the very first competition in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in the year 2000 and won bronze in the 2018 edition hosted Marakesh, Morocco.
The 22nd Africa Men’s Cadet Handball Championship is being held in Abidjan, with Africa’s best young handball talents battling for continental honours and valuable international experience as the tournament serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 IHF Men’s U19 Handball World Championship.
