AFRICA MEN’S HANDBALL NATIONS CUP:- Coach Salami Names Nigeria’s Final List, Golden Arrows Set for Kigali
Rafiu Salami, Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national handball team, the Golden Arrows, has unveiled his final 16-man squad for the Africa Men’s Handball Nations Cup 2026 scheduled to hold from January 21st to 31st, 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The list was released following several weeks of intensive camping and training in Abuja, where players were put through tactical, physical and technical sessions aimed at fine-tuning the team ahead of the continental showpiece.
The squad blends home-based talents with foreign-based professionals, underscoring the technical crew’s desire to strike a balance between experience and youthful energy. Leading the goalkeeping department is Olatunde Adams, who plies his trade in Qatar, alongside Michael Ogbaji (Cotonou) and Okwor Obinna (COAS).
In the backcourt, Nigeria will rely on the experience of Yusuf Faruk, who is based in France, and Rotibi Gbenga from Morocco, while the centre back role will be anchored by Hakeem Salami, also plying his trade in Morocco.
The pivot position boasts strength and versatility with Daniel Bello of Turkey and Cotonu based Sessugh Stephen while the wings feature exciting options such as Azeez Suleiman (France) and Cole Gbenga (Morocco).
Nigeria have been drawn in Group A of the championship alongside hosts Rwanda, Algeria and Zambia.
The Golden Arrows will begin their campaign in the very first match of the competition on Wednesday against Algeria, a fixture expected to test the team’s readiness early in the competition.
Coach Rafiu Salami will be assisted by a backroom staff led by Innocent Nwankwo, David Emmanuel, Technical Director Mohammed Bala Khalid, and medical personnel Sha Grace Saleh, as Nigeria targets a strong showing in Kigali.
Nigeria has featured in the Africa Handball Nations Cup 15 times since first qualifying for the championship in Tunisia in 1974 with best performance being a 4th-place finish in 1998 in South Africa
Africa Men’s Handball Championship 2026 KIGALI, RWANDA. GOLDEN ARROWS OF NIGERIA TEAM LIST
Goalkeepers
1. Olatunde Adams – Qatar
2. Michael Ogbaji – Cotonou
3. Okwor Obinna – Coas
Back Left
4. John Shagari – Cotonou
5. Tahir Lawal Ahmad- Corrections Service
Back Right
6. Yusuf Faruk – France
7. Rotibi Gbenga – Morocco
Centre Back
8. Hakeem Salami – Morocco
9. Ibrahim Dikko – Cotonou
Pivot
10. Sessugh Stephen – Cotonou
11. Daniel Bello – Turkey
Left Wing
12. Kareem Ajibike – Cotonou
13. Mohammed Mustapha – Sokoto
Right Wing
14. Azeez Suleiman – France
15. Cole Gbenga – Morocco
16. Atabo Abdullahi – Cotonou
Officials
1. Salami Sulu Rafiu – Head Coach
2. Innocent Nwankwo – Assistant
3. David Emmanuel – Assistant
4. Mohammed Bala Khalid – Technical Director
5. Sha Grace Saleh – Team Medic
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