Angola Hand Nigeria First Main-Round Loss

By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE

NIGERIA’S quest for continental glory at the 2026 African Men’s Handball Championship encountered its toughest test yet on Sunday, as the Golden Arrows were edged out by Angola in their opening match of the main round.

The defeat followed a commanding group-stage performance that had positioned Nigeria among the leading contenders for a semi-final spot.

Nigeria opened their campaign in Group A with a surprise 25–23 victory over seven-time champions Algeria, a match defined by a crucial four-goal run that swung momentum firmly in their favour. That result was followed by emphatic wins over Zambia and host nation Rwanda, as the Golden Arrows cruised to 36–18 and 30–20 victories to finish top of the group.

Those performances raised expectations heading into the main round, but Angola proved a different proposition. In a closely fought contest, both sides exchanged goals for long periods, with Angola ultimately capitalising on key moments to secure a narrow win.

The result underlined the fine margins at the business end of the championship, where qualification stakes are high and mistakes are costly.

The main round will run through Tuesday, with the top two teams from each group earning places in the semi-finals and automatic qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany. A further World Championship ticket is available to the fifth-placed team via placement matches.

Despite the loss, Nigeria remains firmly in contention for qualification and now turns focus to a high-stakes showdown against defending champions Egypt on Tuesday.

That encounter is expected to be pivotal, not only in deciding Nigeria’s semi-final fate but also in shaping their path toward a historic World Championship appearance. With momentum, belief, and qualification hopes still intact, the Golden Arrows will be aiming for a strong response when it matters most.