Nigeria and Australia hope for two points

Two nations with just two previous appearances between them at an IHF Men’s Junior World Championship, who know each other well have a rare opportunity for a win in the preliminary group stage as Nigeria play Australia today.

Egypt and France - teams with a perfect record so far - face Korea and Sweden respectively, opponents who are having a mixed Spain 2019 campaign so far.

GROUP B

Feature Match: Australia vs Nigeria
As Travesas Sport Hall, Vigo – 17:00 local time

Nigeria are appearing in their first IHF Men’s Junior World Championship since 1985, while Australia are in their first-ever, but both teams have a rare chance today to pick up a preliminary round win in the highest competition they can play in at this age range.

Despite coming from opposite sides of the globe, these two teams know each other well after they met last April at the 2019 IHF Men’s Trophy: Intercontinental Phase in Kosovo. Playing for 5/6 place, Nigeria beat Australia 37:21 in Pristina.

The African side had led the team from Oceania 20:9 at the break with Michael Agbaji Solomon impressing in goal for the Nigerians, making 15 saves and ending with a 47% save rate, and he continues to be one of the key players for Nigeria, with some great work between the sticks in Spain.

Abdullahi Ataboh top-scored with eight in that defeat of Australia, but has managed only two strikes so far in Spain, with Mohammed Anas taking over the mantle of the key man for Nigeria.

Australia played what could be their biggest-ever test at this level in their previous match, losing 50:11 to the 1998-generation world champions France, but had shown glimpses of promise in the first 10 minutes as they led twice and caused issues in defence for the French attackers, particularly through the performance of goalkeeper Henrik Goerges.

Despite signs of quality, both teams have lost three games each so far as they adapt to playing at a global level. Nigeria played France in the opening match, losing 48:19, and this was followed by a loss to Egypt (47:30) and a 42:30 loss to Korea which saw two Nigerian red cards for fouls late on while Australia lost 44:17 to Egypt in their opener and then Sweden 44:16.

If either team win this match today, they could find themselves equal on two points in the group with Korea, should the Asian side lose to Egypt in the following match, and that would be an impressive feat for two countries who have just two appearances at this level between them in the 21 previous editions of the competition.

Korea desperate for win, will Egypt and France let up?

With six points each France and Egypt are already in the eighth-finals thanks to three wins out of three as they look to the final day of group matches where they could face each other with a perfect record each.

Ahead of that potential table-topping clash, they face two teams who are having an indifferent tournament so far.

In the late evening game Sweden take on France with the Swedes looking to forget all about their comprehensive loss last time out, against Egypt, while France had the optimum preparation with a big win against Australia.

Korea, with just one win so far, take on the North African side in the other Group B match today and the clash of styles will be an interesting contest.

Group B – As Travesas Sport Hall, Vigo: Saturday 20 July
All times local

17:00    AUS vs NGR
19:00    EGY vs KOR
21:00    SWE vs FRA