Nigeria’s Under-23 Handball Men team came from behind to play a dramatic 31-31 draw with the United States of America on the opening day of the 5th IHF Emerging Nations Championship in Varna, Bulgaria.
The Solomon Yola tutor went into the match against the USA, who brought a much-changed team from the team that finished 26th in the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship in Denmark to the 2025 IHF Men’s Emerging Nations Championship but still had the experience of top players such as Pal Merkovszky and Andrew Donlin in their ranks.
The Americans started the match and led 9-2 in the first 13 minutes as Merkovszky had a 50 per cent save efficiency and provided great defensive cover, forcing Nigeria either to turn the ball over or try difficult shots, which had a low chance of being converted into goals.
The USA dominated the opening period; they won the first half 18-12, with Andrew Donlin scoring 7 goals despite a late surge from Nigeria.
The second half was for Nigeria as goalkeeper Obinna Okwor started raking up saves, including some one-on-one situations, fuelling a comeback for Coach Solomon Yola’s side, and they took it with both hands with Faruk Yusuf, who plays in the top-flight French league, a key part in that comeback attempt, which saw Nigeria ride a 6:1 run, preventing the American side from scoring more than one goal in 12 minutes.
By that time, with 12 minutes to go, Nigeria cut the gap to only two goals, 24:22, and was boosted by a fantastic performance from Faruk Yusuf, who became the key player of the team’s attack; they even took the lead, 29:28, for the first time, with three minutes to go.
While Yusuf finished with five goals and three assists, the USA won the Player of the Match, Amar Amitovic, who scored 10 goals and dished six assists, including the last goal of the match, a converted penalty, which saw the USA save a draw, 31:31, dramatically.
Nigeria and the USA are now tied for second and third place in the standings, with one point each, behind the Republic of Moldova; Nigeria will play against Azerbaijan at 2:45 pm on Wednesday.
