Nigeria Homenal Federation List of U18, U20 teams for the IHF female trophy zonal phase in Abidjan

The Burotel Handal Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has started intensive training camps for national handball teams U18 and U20 at the Rowe Park Sports Center, Yaba, Lagos. These preparations anticipate the zonal phase of the IHF female trophy, scheduled to take place from April 20 to 24, 2025, in Abidjan, ivory coast.

The U20 team, under the guide of coach Adewunmi Agboola Shittu, includes players who previously represented Nigeria at level U18, achieving a historical qualification for the World Cup.

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Key players include Kehinde Babatunde (ASPAC HBC, Benin Republic), his twin sister Taiwo Babatunde (Seasiders Babes, Lagos), Esther Mathew (Addidja HBC, Benin Republic) and Rahima Bello (Kiryatono HBC, Israel). The additional squad members are the Samuel sisters, prudence and the beautiful, Chidera Ogbusimba, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters, all of Rima Queens de Sokoto, as well as Damilola Akinlade Of Rivers Queens.​

Coach Shittu expressed his confidence in the preparation of the team for the Junior category, declaring, “It is a new level of experience, since we have not played in the junior category of competition before now. We have players who have participated at the youth level of this competition, but are motivated to do it well at the junior level, and we will overcome despite being a different experience.” ​

The U18 team, led by coach John Uzor, presents emerging talents such as Omole Joy (Rivers Queens), Taiwo Islamiat (Seasiders Babes) and Oluwalade Phoebe (Ekiti).

The Uzor coach emphasized the ambition of the team, saying: “We are entering the large shoes used by our older sisters, which are now in the U-20 category, and we must maintain and even overcome their standards. We have the best group of selected players throughout the country to do so, and I think we will overcome in Côte D’Avoire.” ​

U18 guest players

Goalkeepers
Folorrusho Deborah (Ekiti)
Victoria Peter (Sulaja)
Sarah Peter (Babes Seasiders)

Left back
Toyin ognsakin (ekiti)
Audu Salamatu (Funad Academy)

Left wing
Adebayo Adijat (Mindscope Academy)
Adegbite Abiodun (Ekiti)

Pivot
Oluwalade Phoebe (Ekiti)

Back down
Ayogu (Ekiti) success
Ojie Princess (Funa Academy)
DESOLA WASIU (DELTA FORCE)
Nestor Abigail (Mindscope Academy)

Immediately
Balogun Faizat (Babes Seasiders)
Mohammed Balikis (Rima Queens)

Right wing
Taiwo Islamait (Babes Seasiders)
Ngaoodurubie Chetachi (Coas Babes)
Oloidi Timilehin
Joy of Omole
OMOLE Shops
Mike treasure
Duru’s success
Okonkwo Sharon

Officials
Coach John Uzor
Bukola Duru coach

U-20 guest players

Kehinde Babatunde – Aspac HBC, Cotonou
Rahima Belo – Kiryatono HBC, Israel
Esther Mathew – Addidja HBC, Cotonou
Chidera Ogbusimba – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Prudce Samuel – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Beautiful Samuel– Rima Queens, Sokoto
Amina Mohammed – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Joy Peters – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Lucy Onyekwere – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Mariam Eye – Rima Queens, Sokoto
Eli Godiya – Funad Falcons, Lagos
Michael Christiana – Funad Falcons, Lagos
Okolo Joan – Delta Force, Delta
Izoba Ijeoma – Delta Force, Delta
Taiwo Babatunde – Delta Force, Delta
Akinlade Damilola – Seasiders Queens, Lagos
Akinola Gift – Rivers Queens, Rivers
OPEYEMI OLARENWAJU – EKITI QUEENS, EKITI
Mahmuda Aishat – Osun United Queens
MONICA OPARA – ADDIDJA HBC, Cotonou
Emuore Emmamuzo – Rima Queens, Sokoto

Officials
AGBOOLA SHIITU ADEWUNMI – TOJEMARINE HBC, LAGOS
Abdullahi Suleiman – Rima Queens, Sokoto

The success in the Abidjan tournament is crucial, since both teams must win the zonal phase to qualify for the continental stage at the end of this year

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