Nigeria Opens Africa Handball Campaign Against Algeria
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
THE Golden Arrows, Nigeria’s senior men’s handball team, have arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the 2026 Africa Handball Nations Championship, scheduled to hold from 21 to 31 January.
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) confirmed the team’s departure on Tuesday through its Media Coordinator, Cosmos Chukwuemeka. He said the team left Lagos early Tuesday from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
According to the HFN, the Nigerian delegation is led by federation president Jibril Saidu Ojih, FNSQ, accompanied by key officials, as the team prepares to compete against Africa’s top handball nations.
Coach Rafiu Salami’s side is expected to arrive in Kigali by noon, with little time to settle before their opening match. Nigeria will face Algeria on Wednesday in a 1 p.m. fixture, which is expected to provide an early test of the team’s readiness.
The Africa Handball Nations Championship, held every two years, remains one of the toughest competitions on the continent, particularly due to the dominance of North African teams.
Egypt enter the tournament as defending champions, having won the title nine times, while Tunisia remain the most decorated nation in the competition’s history with ten titles.
Nigeria will be hoping to build momentum in Kigali and challenge the established hierarchy, as the Golden Arrows seek improved results and greater consistency on the continental stage.
