Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana have emerged potential candidates for the finals at the ongoing Africa Zone 3 International Handball Federation (IHF) Challenge Trophy at the Tennis Arena of the Accra Sports Stadium.
As of press time, yesterday, the three countries were in pole positions to book places in the finals of the U-17 and U-19 categories today.
The five-day handball festival commenced on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium Courts with five teams – Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria and host country Ghana competing at the youth tournament and four teams in the juniors’ category.
They are Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Ghana.
In the opening encounter, Ghana’s U-17 female team defeated Benin 36-22 while in the second game, Nigeria humiliated Liberia 44-8, all at the U-17 level as both countries set out to dominate.
By day two, Liberia established themselves as the whipping girls of the female championship as they lost 14-52 to the Ghana U-17 side and suffered another humiliating 09-57 defeat to Benin at the U-19 level.
Ghana also recorded her first defeat of the tournament in the U-19 division as Cote d’Ivoire triumphed 33-29 in an entertaining game. The Ivorians replicated the same performance at the U-17 level where they thrashed Benin 37-26.
Ghana made amends on day three with a 21-16 win over Benin at U-19 where Cote d’Ivoire also mauled Liberia 62-05.
Nigeria then handed Ghana a 49-29 defeat at the U-17 level while Cote d’Ivoire recorded a 48-08 victory over Liberia.
Winners of the various categories will qualify for the continental phase of the Women’s IHF Trophy championship.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
