By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
Team Ogun secured a decisive 32–20 victory over Team Kogi in the women’s handball event at the Gateway Games, showcasing dominance from the onset of the match.
Ogun led the first half with a solid performance, scoring 16 goals against Kogi’s 11. The momentum continued in the second half, allowing Ogun to maintain control and seal the win.
Speaking after the game, Ogun’s head coach, Shola Sekoni, expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, while also emphasizing the need for improvement as the competition progresses.
“I must first thank the governor for giving us this game. We just started, so I’ll give the team 50 percent. I believe we’re qualifying and reaching the final,” he said.
Coach Sekoni also acknowledged a shift in strategy during the game: “At the beginning, it was great, but when we saw that we were losing energy, we had to change our game plan. They couldn’t understand our pattern. Our next match is against Plateau, and our girls are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure victory.”
Despite the setback, Kogi’s head coach, Emeka Joseph, remained hopeful, praising his players’ effort and vowing a comeback in their next match.
“The girls did very well even though we couldn’t win. They gave their best. We lost, but we’re still satisfied and preparing for our next game against Plateau State,” he said. “We’re not giving up—I believe we’ll win the next match.”
