After a 25-year absence, the female national handball team returns to the Nations Cup beaming with confidence.
No fewer than16 players, coach and few officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday for Yaounde, Cameroon, to take part in the women handball Nations Cup.
The team played their last training match on Tuesday where they were out classed 46-28 by an Abuja-based Men’s National Division 1 Side, Arise Stars.
Coach Rafiu Salami, in naming his final squad, dropped two players – Alawaye Ramat and Onyinye Ilo.
The final list of 16 players and HFN Officials had their 2nd COVID-19 tests on Wednesday.
The Confederation of African Handball during a virtual meeting confirmed that only Nigeria and DR Congo complied with its requirement of undergoing the first test seven days before departure to Cameroun.
Nigeria’s opening Group B match is on Sunday, June 6 against DR Congo.
Thereafter, the team will play Cameroun, before facing Kenya, a team Nigeria defeated at the last Africa Games.