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By: Ebenezer Bajela.
Shittu Agboola, head coach of Nigeria’s U-18 women’s handball team, says the team will not give Egypt too much respect when both teams clash in the semi-finals of the ongoing Africa Women’s Youth Handball Championship in Monastir, Tunisia on Friday (today).
Nigeria defeated Morocco 28-14 in the quarter-finals of the tournament on Wednesday to set up the showdown against the Egyptians, who also defeated Algeria 30-18 in the other last eight clash.
The victories on Wednesday mean both countries have qualified for the 2024 IHF Women’s Youth World Championship in China.
It is the first time that Nigeria will qualify for the global competition but until then they have a hurdle ahead of them in Tunisia.
Speaking ahead of today’s game against the North Africans, Agboola stated, “”We want to thank every Nigerian for supporting and praying for us since the commencement of the championship and we are very excited to qualify Nigeria for her first ever World Women’s Youth Handball Championship in China next year.
“The whole team is excited and we are really looking forward to the semi-finals against Egypt on Friday (today). This is why we want Nigerians to continue supporting us as we believe our excitement will translate to a good outing against Egypt.
“Though we respect the records of Egypt and also Angola as pioneer winners of female handball in this category in Africa, we do not heed that in our plans as it will mean we are showing them too much respect.
“Of course, we respect the fact that they are one of the best teams in female handball on the continent but we believe that on the court we also have a chance to win.