Nigeria will play DR Congo in their first match of the Africa Women Handball Championship on Tuesday.
The National Women Handball Team set the pace by playing the first match of the Championship which will hold at the Palais Polyvalent De Sports De Yaoundé (Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Center) against DR Congo.
Coach Rafiu Salami knows the importance of the first game for the ladies and believes that his team is ready to make Nigeria proud.
While speaking to HFN Media on Monday, Coach Rafiu declared that the team is highly motivated and ready to take on the continent despite participating in the championship for the first time since 1994.
“We know we are participating in the nation’s cup for the first in 27 years but this team is highly motivated and we believe we can do well in our first match against DR Congo” Coach Salami said
“We have mastered our tactics and hopefully it will come through for us in the first match.
I told the players that they must be focused all through and the ladies understand the importance of this Championship and I believe we will do well”.
The Issy Handball Club of France tactician also praised the Sam Ocheho led Handball Federation of Nigeria and the Ministry of Sports for their support and motivation.
He particularly eulogised the Chairman Caretaker Committee of HFN Sam Ocheho for his interest in ensuring that Nigeria gets back the glory days by ensuring that the federation developmental programmes are embarked on which has produced several young players who are also in the national teams.
“I am not one who is interested in administrative aspects of the sports but I can categorically say that Sam (Sam Ocheho) is trying in his zeal to ensure that the HFN discover more skillful young players through developmental programmes.
I want to also thank the ministry for all of the support to our team as well since we started our preparation in Abuja till now”.
Nigeria are participating in their first Africa Women Handball Nation’s Cup for the first time since they did in 1994.
They will play DR Congo at 2pm Nigeria time and the match will be streamed live on HFN TV on Facebook.
