The national U23 male handball team lost 24-38 to the United States of America on Thursday to record a third loss in five games at the IHF Emerging Nation Tournament currently holding in Georgia. 

Nigeria had beaten Malta on Wednesday to record their first and only victory at the tournament but failed to build on the momentum generated by that win as they were undone by a shambolic second half showing.

With the score at 10-15 in the first half, Nigeria began the second period trailing by five goals but a collapse in defence saw the U23 team concede 23 times while scoring just 15 goals.

Nigeria’s record at the tournament now reads won one, drawn one and lost three in five matches.

They are fourth in Group B with three points, level with Ireland who defeated Malta 41-23 but with a better ahead record than the Irish.

In the other Group B game decided on Thursday, hosts, Georgia defeated Bulgaria 35-19 while India lost 29-40 to Cuba 40-29, Great Britain beat Columbia 27-23 and China saw off Azerbaijan 35-26 in Group A.