Nigeria’s Golden Arrows in action against Angola during their 27–24 loss at the African Men’s Handball Championship in Kigali on Sunday. Photo: HFN
Nigeria’s bid to continue their remarkable run at the 2026 African Men’s Handball Championship suffered a setback on Sunday as they were narrowly defeated by Angola in their opening match of the main round, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Golden Arrows, who had topped Group A with commanding victories over Algeria, Zambia, and hosts Rwanda, went down 24–27 at the Kigali BK Arena yesterday, leaving their hopes of a semi-final berth and early qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship hanging in the balance.
The match began with Nigeria struggling to contain a determined Angolan side. At half-time, the Arrows trailed 11–14 after conceding a series of well-taken goals.
Despite their best efforts in the second half, including converting five of seven seven-metre throws, Nigeria could not overturn Angola’s lead, who were perfect from the penalty spot with six successful attempts out of six.
Nigeria’s campaign had begun in impressive fashion. In Group A, they stunned seven-time champions Algeria 25–23 after taking the lead in the 14th minute thanks to a 4–0 scoring run.
This was followed by comprehensive victories over Zambia (36–18) and hosts Rwanda (30–20), which saw them finish first in the group, positioning them as strong contenders for the semi-finals.
A win against Angola would have cemented their place and guaranteed qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship.
The match saw Nigeria receive two yellow cards and one red card, while Angola remained disciplined throughout. Both teams used timeouts strategically, with Nigeria calling theirs at 13:08 and 48:37, while Angola used theirs at 19:18, 52:29, and 58:19.
Angola’s victory highlighted the competitive nature of the main round, which began on Sunday and will conclude on Tuesday.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, securing automatic qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship in Germany.
Even the fifth-placed team, determined through placement matches, will earn a spot at the global tournament, keeping Nigeria’s World Championship hopes alive despite the defeat.
Looking ahead, Nigeria now face defending champions Egypt in their final main round match on Tuesday.
The encounter will be crucial in determining whether the Golden Arrows can maintain their momentum and secure a semi-final position in the first African Men’s Handball Championship held in East Africa.
Nigeria’s best finish at this competition came in 1998, when they ended fourth and subsequently represented Africa at the 1999 IHF Men’s World Championship, finishing 23rd.
With a semi-final berth still within reach, the Golden Arrows will be looking to write a new chapter in their history and keep their World Championship dreams alive.
