In the opening games of the fourth International Handball Federation Emerging Nations Championship, Nigeria's under-24 male handball team suffered a defeat to the host nation, Bulgaria.

The game took place at the Palace of Culture and Sports in Varna, with the hosts claiming a 23-19 victory, marking their second win in the tournament after beating Azerbaijan.

Despite managing to stay close to the Bulgarians throughout the game and putting pressure on them, Nigeria, who were being coached by Solomon Yola, were unable to overturn the deficit.

At half-time, the score stood at 11-13 in favour of the hosts, and although the African team fought hard, Bulgaria proved to be the stronger side, winning by four points and maintaining their lead in Group D.

Nigeria will now look to bounce back in their next game against Azerbaijan, scheduled for Thursday. A win in that match will secure their spot in the tournament's placement matches.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria's two consecutive wins have secured their place in the semi-finals, where they will face Cuba, the top team in Group C, on Saturday. The tournament features a total of 12 teams, grouped into four, and is expected to conclude on Sunday.