The Nigeria handball national team held off a stern challenge from Cameroon on Friday to win 33-29 in a placement match at the Africa Handball Nations Cup holding in Tunisia.

The win means Nigeria depart the tournament as the eleventh-placed team.

The encounter which unfolded in the 2,500 capacity Hammamet Indoor Sports Hall saw both teams cancel out each other to end the first half level at 17-17. Nigeria managed to edge an equally close second half 16-12 to wrap up a 33-29 victory.

The victory was Nigeria’s third in the competition with every single one coming in the placements after they lost all three group matches. It was also a second win over Cameroon in two weeks after the Nigerians beat them in a preparatory game in the lead up to the competition.

Nigeria’s Yahaya Owolabi was voted player of the match.