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U-20 Defending Champions Start Strong as U-18 Stumble at IHF Zone III Trophy
Ghana’s Under-18 and Under-20 men’s handball teams began their 2026 IHF Zone III Trophy campaign on Tuesday, April 7, in Lomé, with contrasting outcomes in Group A.
The Under-18 side, silver medalists from the previous edition, endured a difficult start as they fell 32–27 to Ivory Coast.
Ghana trailed narrowly 18–16 at halftime but could not sustain the pressure in the second half as the Ivorians stepped up their intensity, opening a five-goal gap by full time.
The Under-20 team announced their title defence in style with an emphatic 45–34 victory over hosts Togo. Ghana dominated the opening half 19–14 and returned from the break with renewed purpose, stretching the margin to 11 goals at the final whistle.
Pius Komasi was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match.
Reacting after the game, Under-20 Head Coach Hillary Mills said, "as a defending champion, every team will come hard at you. At the beginning of the game our pattern was not working because of the home support, but after the time-out call we changed our strategy and that worked for us.”
He added, "we will up our game going into the next match. We are taking one game at a time and we know with God on our side and the support from home, we will make our country proud.”
Player of the Match Pius Komasi attributed his performance to collective effort, saying, "this performance is down to teamwork and the support from the technical staff, as well as our supporters back home.”
Next up, the Under-18 team will face hosts Togo as they seek a quick response, while the Under-20 side take on Niger in their second Group A fixture.
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