By Amaechi Agbo
F
rench international handball star Pauletta Foppa has expressed her commitment to contributing to the development and growth of handball in Nigeria.
Foppa, who is one of the top players in the French national handball team and also stars for Brest Bretagne Handball in the Women’s Handball League (LFH Division 1 Féminine), has Nigerian heritage through her mother, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, while her father is a Cameroonian.
During a courtesy visit to the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Mr. Samuel Ocheho alongside her Parents, at the Rowe Park Sports Center in Yaba, Lagos, Foppa said she was impressed with the progress of the sport in Nigeria and expressed her desire to contribute to its further development.
“I’m proud of my Nigerian roots, and I want to give back by supporting the growth of handball, especially at the grassroots level,” Foppa said. “One of the ways I hope to do that is by organizing handball clinics for young players across the country. I also look forward to partnering with the Handball Federation of Nigeria to provide more opportunities and motivation for upcoming talents.”
As part of her visit, Foppa also interacted with players of Tojemarine Academy Handball Club, champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League, who are currently undergoing preparatory camping ahead of the first phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League scheduled to hold next week in Benin City, Edo State. She also met with players from FUNAD Female Handball Club and encouraged them to remain focused and passionate about the game.
HFN President, Mr. Samuel Ocheho, warmly welcomed Foppa and lauded her passion and willingness to contribute to the sport in Nigeria. He encouraged her to always embrace her heritage and help inspire the next generation of players.
“Pauletta is a shining example of what Nigerian heritage can produce on the global stage,” Ocheho said. “We’re excited about her plans and we will support her initiatives to engage with young players. She should not forget her roots, and we hope her story motivates more players of Nigerian descent to connect with their origin and contribute to the sport’s growth.”
Foppa’s involvement is expected to boost grassroots handball and add international exposure to the development programs of Handball in Nigeria.
Her sporting achievements with the French national team includes, winning the European Championships on home soil in 2018, getting the Gold medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 following France’s 30-25 victory over Russia in the final and winning the World Championships against Norway in 2023.
She has also won the French league in 2021 and the French Cup in 2016 with her club Brest.
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