Nigeria opens camp ahead of 23rd African Men's Handball Cup of Nations

The Golden Arrows are grouped alongside 10-time champion Tunisia, Angola and Kenya and will play in Group D with the hope of qualifying for the world handball championship in 2025 which will be held in Croatia, Denmark and Norway and for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

To this end, Coach Rafiu Salami alongside his assistant, Coach Solomon Yola invited twenty-seven players for an intensive camping which began on Monday under the tutelage of Coach Solomon Yola who is holding fort till the arrival of France-based Coach Rafiu Salami.

Top on the list is Franklin BM Granollers of Spain player and captain Obina Anih of Zenith St Petersburg of Russia as well as Niger United centre-back Yazid Kassim amongst others.

Nigeria will begin their campaign of the Nations Cup as they play their opening match against Angola on January 17th, 2023

The Golden Arrows will be making their 15th appearance at the Nations Cup and their best tournament was in South Africa in 1998 where they finished fourth.

Goalkeepers: Olatunde Adamaolugbe; Michael solomon Agbaji (Aspac, Republic of Benin); Obinna Okwor. (Confluence Stars); Samson Sunday Odeh (Adidja handball club Benin republic); Abass Muhammed (Niger United)

Pivot: Stephen Sessugh Iorter (Aspac handball club Benin republic); Dele kelvin; Joseph Igwekere; Daniel Bello (Tojemarine Academy)

Left Back: John Shagari (Niger United); Odeh Joseph Gbawan (Bendel Dynamos); Tahir Ahmad; Christian Folaki (Tojemarine Academy)

Right Back: Yusuf Faruk (Franklin BM Granollers, Spain); Obinna Anih (Zenit St Petersburg HC, Russia); Rotibi Gbenga (Lagos Seasiders)

Center Back: Ibrahim Dikko (Adidja handball club Benin republic); Hakeem Salami (Adidja handball club Benin republic); Yazid kassim (Niger United); Obinna Patrick

Right Wing: Osamwonyi Mathew Olaye (Kano Pillars); Azeez Suleiman (Tojemarine academy); Gbenga Cole; Seun Adeniji ((Tojemarine academy)

Left Wing: Anas Muhammad (Niger United); Andrew Ojo (Kano Pillars); Kareem Ajibike (Tojemarine Academy); Abubakar Ahmed (Sokoto Rima)