Team captain Dorathy Nyagh is confident Nigeria can mark its return to the Women’s Africa Handball Championship after a twenty-year absence by leaving Cameroon with the trophy.

Nigeria’s women’s handball national team will play in Group B at the 24th Women’s Africa Handball Championship which commences on 6 June. They’ll go up against hosts Cameroon, DR Congo and Kenya in the group stage.

Having failed to qualify for this tournament for the last two decades, there are doubts as to just how far the team can go.

But Nyagh isn’t overly concerned by their lack of experience on this stage, insisting that the team’s quality of playing personnel, backroom staff and preparation can take them to glory over more experienced sides.

“Yes, with the preparation we’re having at the moment, I can say and I feel like we can qualify out of the group and win the championship,” the Benue Queens left-back said about Nigeria’s chances in Cameroon.

“To me, it’s not all about who has been consistent in the championship, it’s about focus, determination and unity.

“We have all it takes to win the championship, considering the set of coaches we have, in the persons of Coach Rafiu Salami and Coach Lateef Abdulkadir.

“We are not just ready, we are determined to break the jinx.”