Nigeria’s senior men’s handball team made a striking start at the 27th Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup in Kigali with a thrilling 25-23 victory over Algeria on Wednesday at Petit Stade. The win positions the Golden Arrows strongly in Group A, which also includes host nation Rwanda and Zambia.
From the outset, Nigeria demonstrated disciplined defense and clinical finishing, ending the first half with a 16-13 lead. Algeria mounted a determined comeback in the second half, but Nigeria held firm, showing resilience in the final minutes to secure a hard-fought win.
Standout performances came from Faruk Yusuf and John Shagari, whose scoring kept Nigeria ahead, while goalkeeper Okwor Obinna made several crucial saves, frustrating the Algerian attack during decisive moments. Analysts praised Nigeria’s tactical execution and composure under pressure, highlighting the team’s ability to capitalize on counterattacks and maintain defensive structure.
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With this victory, Nigeria earns two important points and builds momentum ahead of their next Group A clash against Zambia on Thursday. The tournament also doubles as the qualifying event for the 2027 World Men’s Handball Championship in Germany, meaning every match carries high stakes for teams seeking a global berth.
Nigeria has a history of competitive appearances in the Nations Cup, with their best finish being fourth place in 1998. The current squad is focused on improving that record and aims to carry the confidence from this opening win into the remainder of the group stage.
