Nigeria won their first game in two and their most significant win in the IHF Emerging Nations Tournament on Thursday by defeating Azerbaijan 35-17.
Nigeria finished second in Group D after Cuba at Varna’s Cultural and Sports Centre.
Cuba advanced to the semi-finals with two victories, while Azerbaijan finished last.
After 12 games at the 2023 tournament, Africa’s score is the highest.
Nigeria started well against Azerbaijan, capitalising on European mistakes.
After 17 assault turnovers, they scored devastating fast breaks.
Right-back Faruk Yusuf scored six first-half goals, three of which came on the rapid breakaway as the West Africans were unstoppable.
Nigeria’s 11-2 start, which limited Azerbaijan to two goals in the opening 15 minutes, set them up for the triumph.
Yusuf completed the game with 13 goals, bringing his competition total to 19.
It trails Andorra’s Unai Ruiz by two goals.
Nigeria won 35-17, their second-largest tournament win after their 40-13 triumph against Malta in 2019.
Nigeria will play Great Britain in the Placement Matches on Saturday, hoping to better on their 2019 seventh-place finish in Georgia.
The Wednesday-started event will finish Sunday.
