Sports Groove

By FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG      Nigeria’s quest for continental glory at the African Handball Championship ended in disappointment, as a campaign filled with promise ultimately unravelled at the business end of the tournament.  The Golden Arrows arrived with high hopes of making a deep run, but inconsistency, missed chances and a growing competitive field conspired to halt their mission earlier than expected. The turning point came in a painful defeat that exposed familiar issues for Nigeria, lapses in concentration, struggles against well-drilled defences and an inability to close out tight moments.  For a nation with raw talent and athleticism in abundance, the setback highlighted the gap that still exists between potential and sustained elite performance on the continental stage.  It was another reminder that progress in African handball now demands more than passion; it requires structure, depth and long-term investment. While Nigeria stumb...

  By Mishael Emmanuel with additional information by Pius Ayinor    The President, Handball Federation of Nigeria, Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih, on Monday expressed sympathy to the players, coaches, and management of Benue Buffaloes following a harrowing ordeal while returning from the recently conclude Ardova Premier League.   The Buffaloes who finished 9th in the League were abducted by armed men, robbed and left traumatised while travelling back from Lagos. The incident happened just after Otukpo, Benue State but they were later rescued through the intervention of troops of the Nigeria Army as confirmed by the Handball Federation. In a statement made available to Sports Groove, Ojih condemned the traumatic experience, describing it as “a sad and heartbreaking ordeal that no athlete, coach, or official should ever be subjected to” while also thanking the Nigerian Army for their quick response. “I extend my deepest sympathy to the entire Benue Buffaloes team. W...

Nigeria’s female U18 handball team wrapped up their campaign at the 2025 Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria, on a high, edging the hosts in a pulsating classification match on Sunday. Coach John Uzor’s side, already out of the semi-final race, showed remarkable resilience to claim a 29-28 victory in the dying seconds and finish fifth overall. Nigeria went into halftime with a narrow 13–11 lead but faced intense pressure after the break as Algeria, spurred on by a vocal home crowd, clawed their way back into contention. With the score locked at 28–28 and the clock ticking down, the atmosphere inside the arena reached fever pitch. Goalkeeper Aisha Jamilu produced a crucial save to deny Algeria a potential winner. From the resulting fast break, Ngozi Korie kept her composure and slotted home just as the buzzer sounded, igniting jubilant celebrations among the Nigerian bench. Though the win secured a respectable fifth-place finish, Nigeria narrowly miss...

By Mishael Emmanuel with additional reports  Nigeria’s female U18 national handball team were held by debutants Benin Republic, in their third group game at the Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria. The 2023 bronze medalists were a much improved side compared to the team that lost 50-25 to Tunisia, leading by 2 goals going into the interval.   The two-time semifinalists displayed attacking prowess and improved ball circulation but they lacked the composure needed to seal a second victory at the tournament, after an opening day walkover against Madagascar who failed to field a team at the competition, as they failed to build on their 17-15 halftime advantage, allowing a spirited Benin side, a foot back into the game.    Benin capitalizing on Nigeria’s defensive lapses, forcing turnovers and staying just within touching distance as they mounted a strong comeback in the second half.   Their persistence paid off as they clawed back...

The final list of players for Nigeria’s Women’s U18 Handball Team has been released as the team prepares to compete in the 2025 African Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Oran, Algeria. The championship, which will take place from September 14 to 21, 2025, serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Women’s Youth World Handball Championship and the IHF Women’s Intercontinental Phase. The 14-player roster includes talented players who were part of the team that won the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase for Africa Zone 3 in Ivory Coast earlier this year. ★ TEAM NIGERIA  GOALKEEPERS: ✓ Aisha Jamilu (Rima Queens of Sokoto) ✓ Okonkwo Sharon (Edo Dynamos) LEFT BACKS: ✓ Mohammed Balikiss (Soof Omo Ogiefo) ✓ Ngozi Okorie (Soof HBC) LEFT WINGS: ✓ Duru Success (Edo Dynamos) ✓ Ngaodurubie Chetachi (Soof Omo Ogiefo) PIVOTS: ✓ Oluwalade Phebe (Ekiti Queens) ✓ Momodu Joy Veronica (Ekiti Queens) CENTER BACKS: ✓ Esther Peter (Rima Queens of Sokoto) ✓ Desola Wasiu (Imo Grasshoppers) RIGHT WINGS...

In a vital development, Nasarawa State has thrown its weight behind the presidential aspirations of one of the Board Members of the Nigeria Handball Federation, Mr. Jibril Saidu. The endorsement was made when the presidential candidate paid a courtesy visit to the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, in his office in Lafia, on Friday. Kwanta who expressed delight in receiving the presidential candidate disclosed that Nasarawa State is impressed with the numerous achievements and contributions of Mr. Jibril Saidu to the growth and development of Handball in the State. "I started hearing about your great contributions to our State and its athletes many months ago. "It's people like you we want at the helm of affairs of our sports because we are confident that you will add great value in all spheres of our sports. "Nasarawa State is your home, and we haven't received any negative reports about you. "Niger...

By Maxwell Kumoye    A current board member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mr. Jibril Saidu, says the welfare of players, coaches, officiating officials and the introduction of policies that will fast track and accelerate the growth of handball in Nigeria are key elements of his administration. Mr. Jibril Saidu, made this promise on Saturday in a chat with journalists, stating that when you give the much needed attention to these critical aspects of this sport that all Nigerians are passionate about, it will go a long way in attracting the right sponsors and corporate bodies.  Mr. Jibril Saidu, a Presidential candidate for the forthcoming election into the board of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), said; ”So many past leaders have done so much and so much is still expected for handball.” “We know that Handball is now digitalized and technology plays a key role in the sport worldwide, the playing pattern has changed, new administrative mod...