The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih (FNIQS), paid a working visit to the President of the Confederation of Africa Handball (CAHB), Dr. Mansourou Aremou in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Tuesday, where key developmental discussions about the growth of handball in Nigeria took center stage.

The meeting saw Mr. Ojih expressing profound appreciation to the CAHB leadership for confirming Nigeria’s senior men’s national team inclusion in the 2026 African Cup of Nations.

“I want to sincerely thank Dr. Aremou and the entire CAHB board for their consideration and continued belief in Nigeria handball,” Ojih said.

“This inclusion means a lot to us and it’s certainly not about participation; but it’s about trust, recognition, and an opportunity for our players to once again prove their quality on the continental stage.” Ojih said

Beyond the competition, the HFN President used the visit to seek greater collaboration between the Continental Handball body and Nigeria in developing the sport locally while also emphasising the need for structured capacity-building programmes for coaches and referees as part of his vision to strengthen the technical backbone of the game in the country.

“We are committed to raising the standard of the game in Nigeria and it begins with empowering our technical officials, the coaches and referees, with up-to-date knowledge and skills.

We also want to deepen grassroots development, especially through school programs, because that’s where the future stars of Nigerian handball will emerge.” Ojih added

In his response, Dr. Aremou praised the commitment of the HFN leadership and expressed CAHB’s readiness to support Nigeria’s developmental drive.

“Nigeria remains a key member of the African handball family and we are pleased to confirm the inclusion of the Nigerian men’s national team in the 2026 African Cup of Nations”. .

“Beyond that, CAHB is ready to work closely with HFN to strengthen its technical structure and support grassroots initiatives that will further grow the sport in the country.” Dr. Aremou said

The meeting is seen as a major diplomatic win for Nigeria handball and a significant step in restoring the country’s presence at the top level of continental handball competitions.