Nigeria U-18 women handball team finished as runner up after their 22-16 defeat against a highly impressive Kosovo side on Sunday in the final of the IHF Women’s Trophy Intercontinental Phase in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Nigeria team who have been impressive up until the final game have had a hundred percent winning streak since the zonal phase and through to the intercontinental phase and then getting into the final, knew they were carrying not just the country’s flag but that of the continent of Africa and started the match with that zeal in the first half.
With a 75 percent shot ability, Nigeria did play with determination to draw the first half 10-10.
The second half wasn’t a good one as turnovers set in to curtail the girls, and Kosovo took their chances from near side, the nine meters, wings and from fast break to defeat Nigeria 22-16.
The coach Shittu Agboola tutored side had 30 shots as against 35 from the opponents and scored most of their goals from the seven meters and the near shots. All together they had 53 percent shots accuracy and they will rue the turnovers and chances they missed.
Top players for Nigeria were Amina Mohammed, Joan Anwulika Okolo and Chidera Ogbusimba while Orgesa Gola was fantastic on the day for Kosovo.
Next for Nigeria is the IHF world championship in China later in the year.
