The 23-year-old, one of the brightest stars in world handball, visited the Rowe Park Sports Centre in Yaba, Lagos, accompanied by her parents. Foppa, whose mother hails from Akwa Ibom State and her father is Cameroonian, expressed pride in her Nigerian heritage and a desire to give back to the country of her roots.
“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 organising 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.”
Foppa’s visit included an interactive session with players from the Tojemarine Academy Handball Club, reigning champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League, who are currently in camp ahead of the league’s new season starting next week in Benin City.
She also met with players from the FUNAD Female Handball Club, encouraging them to remain passionate and committed to the game.
President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Samuel Ocheho, received Foppa and praised her enthusiasm to contribute to the sport’s development in Nigeria.
“Pauletta is a shining example of what Nigerian heritage can produce on the global stage,” Ocheho said.
“We are excited about her plans and will support her initiatives to engage with young players. Her story should inspire other players of Nigerian descent to reconnect with their roots and help grow the sport.”
Foppa’s visit is expected to boost morale and bring global attention to grassroots handball efforts in the country.
Her potential involvement in organising clinics and talent development programmes aligns with the federation’s broader objectives of expanding participation and improving player development.
Widely regarded as one of the best pivots in women’s handball, Foppa has amassed an impressive list of achievements with the French national team.
She won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following France’s 30–25 victory over Russia in the final, claimed the European Championship title on home soil in 2018, and helped her country win the World Championship trophy in 2023 with a victory over Norway.
At club level, she has also enjoyed success with Brest Bretagne Handball, winning the French league title in 2021 and the French Cup in 2016.
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