From Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie – Abidjan (HAG Communication)
Ghana’s U-18 and U-20 Women’s Handball Team clinched 5th place at the 2025 IHF Trophy in Abidjan after a hard-fought 25-16 victory over the Central African Republic and Togo in their final placement game on Wednesday.
The U-18 team started on a shaky note, with the Central African Republic mounting stiff opposition. The first half ended narrowly in Ghana’s favour, 13-12.
In the second half, Ghana faced a major challenge after receiving two red cards for infringements committed by Deborah Bosompem and Jasmine Anane, reducing the team to just eight players. Goalkeeper Naomi had to step out of her usual position to support her teammates on the court.
Despite the setback, the team rallied and displayed remarkable resilience, securing the win. Doe Enam Ernestina was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match. Ghana’s U-18 team concluded the tournament with three MVP awards in total.
The U-20 Women’s Team, bronze medalists in the previous edition, couldn’t replicate their earlier success. They lost two of their three group stage matches to Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, securing their only win against the Central African Republic. This placed them in a placement match against Togo.
In a remarkable turnaround, Ghana dominated the placement game, finishing the first half with a commanding 21-8 lead. They extended their dominance in the second half to end the match 46-16. Leticia Adamson was awarded the MVP for the match.
Speaking after the tournament, Head Coach Raphael Sifah reflected on the experience; “generally, the tournament was a standard one. I believe that with the right preparation and all our players available, we could have reached the finals. However, I am happy that both the technical officials and players gained valuable exposure and experience. If we build on this in the coming years, Ghana will be a force to reckon with in our zone.”
In all, Ghana won 5 most valuable player awards, 3 in the U-18 category, and two for the U-20 team.