Rafiu Salami, coach of the Golden Arrows, is optimistic about Nigeria’s chances at the 25th Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup in Egypt, where they face Tunisia on Monday (today).
The team of 16 players and officials departed Abuna on Friday for Cairo, Egypt’s capital.
Salami stated that the Nigerian team would do everything possible to make the country proud and earn a World Championship ticket.
“The last time Nigeria qualified for the World Championship was in 1999 and I was a member of the team at the time,” Salami said.
“This time around we want to make sure we do well enough to get the ticket for the World Championship in Poland next year and we will start with this championship.
“The Handball Federation of Nigeria has given us everything they can with the level of sponsors that they got to make this trip possible and despite the odds, we will do our best in making Nigeria proud,” he added.
The Nigerians take on Cape Verde on Tuesday at 8pm.
Nigeria has participated in 11 editions of the Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup, with their best outing recorded in the 1998 edition in South Africa, where they finished fourth, after losing to Egypt 35-26 in the third-place game.