Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Handball team secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Men’s Youth Handball Championship after producing a commanding second-half performance to defeat Madagascar 45-27 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on Friday.

The Nigerian youngsters were made to work hard in the opening half, with Madagascar matching their intensity and keeping the contest closely fought.

Nigeria, however, managed to establish a slim 16-13 advantage by the interval, setting the stage for a much stronger performance after the break.

The young Nigerians returned from the dressing room with renewed energy and immediately increased the tempo of the game.

Their attacking play became more effective as they moved the ball quickly, created scoring opportunities and put sustained pressure on the Madagascar defence.

Madagascar struggled to contain Nigeria’s attacking surge in the second half as the West Africans gradually opened up a sizeable gap on the scoreboard.

Nigeria’s superior attacking efficiency eventually translated into a commanding 45-27 victory, completing an impressive 29-goal second-half performance.

The emphatic victory confirmed Nigeria’s progression to the quarter-finals of the continental championship and kept their campaign firmly on course.

Akibu Muhammed was one of the standout performers for Nigeria and was subsequently named Man of the Match for his impressive contribution.

The victory will provide further confidence to the Nigerian youngsters as they advance into the knockout stage of the competition.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, where they will face another major test in their quest to challenge for honours at the Africa Men’s Youth Handball Championship.