U-18 World Champs: Nigeria face Chinese Taipei in placement match

 Nigeria’s handball team will later today take on Chinese Taipei in the placement match of the ongoing 10th IHF Women’s Youth (U18) World Championship in Chuzhou, People’s Republic of China, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nigeria failed to advance to the quarterfinals after losing 31-11 to Croatia in their Group B opener, capitulated 26-9 against Montenegro in the second, and mustered a 29-21 win over Angola in the third, their only victory in five matches.

They also failed to live up to expectations in the President’s Cup staged at the Olympic Sports Centre, losing 22-23 to Chile on Tuesday and followed by a 33-14 defeat to Austria.

Following the conclusion of the main round and the President’s Cup, the four quarterfinals are now scheduled, as well as the placement matches, which will decide the final standings of the competition.

The four quarterfinals will take place on Thursday (today) in the International Handball Hall and the Olympic Sports Centre in Chuzhou.

With all 32 teams featuring once again, the focus will be on the four quarterfinals, which will see Croatia take on Denmark, Hungary face Serbia, and France meet Germany, while the only non-European side still alive in the battle for the title, Japan, is pitted against Spain.

Between the eight teams still with a chance for the title, only Denmark have secured the trophy before, at Canada 2006 and Montenegro 2012, while Serbia, Germany, and Hungary also played in the final in the past. On the other hand, Croatia, France, Spain, and Japan have never won a medal.

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