Nigeria’s senior men’s handball team, the Golden Arrows, suffered their first setback in the main draw of the 27th Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup following a hard-fought 27–24 loss to Angola. The intense encounter, held at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, saw the Southern Africans edge out a victory despite a resilient second-half performance from the Nigerians.
Angola set the tone early in the match, utilizing a solid defensive structure and sharp counter-attacks to take a 14–11 lead into the halftime break. The standout performer for Angola, Cláudio André Patrício Chicola, proved to be the difference-maker, finishing the game with an impressive 14 goals. His clinical finishing and composure under pressure helped the Angolans maintain their lead even as Nigeria began to find their rhythm.
The Golden Arrows returned for the second half with renewed energy and improved tactical discipline. The team’s defense tightened up significantly, allowing them to mount a serious challenge. Faruk Yusuf led the Nigerian scoring efforts with nine goals, while Salami Hakeem and Sulaimon Azeez contributed six and four goals, respectively. John Shagari also played a vital role, adding three goals from the backcourt.
In goal, Michael Solomon delivered another standout performance, making several high-stakes saves that kept Nigeria within touching distance for much of the second period. Despite the offensive pressure from Mohammed Mustapha and Iyortyer Sessugh, Angola’s veteran experience shone through in the final minutes, allowing them to protect their three-goal cushion until the final whistle.
The defeat, while disappointing, has not derailed Nigeria’s ambitions for a podium finish. Thanks to a superior goal difference, the Golden Arrows still hold onto second place in their group, sitting just behind continental giants Egypt. This position keeps their semi-final hopes very much alive as the competition enters its most critical phase.
All eyes now shift to the upcoming clash against Egypt. A strong performance in that match is essential for securing a spot in the final four and, more importantly, clinching a ticket to the 2027 World Championship in Germany. The Nigerian side remains optimistic, viewing the loss to Angola as a valuable lesson as they prepare for their toughest test yet in Kigali.
