Tag: Ardova Handball

The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has announced a minor date adjustment for the second phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League, now set to run from November 24 to December 6 in Lagos.

According to a statement signed by HFN Secretary General, Mrs. Monica Otumala, the change aims to allow better logistical planning and documentation by participating clubs.

Teams will arrive on Monday, November 24, while matches will begin on Tuesday, November 25, across two venues — the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, and Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba.

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Mrs. Otumala reminded clubs that all player registrations must be completed by November 10 and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the rescheduling.

After Phase 1 held in Benin City, Safety Shooters lead the men’s division with 28 points, while Safety Babes top the women’s category with a flawless record as they chase a fifth consecutive league title.

All matches will be streamed live on HFN TV, Ardova PLC’s Facebook page, and the federation’s YouTube channel.

On  the second day of the first phase of the ongoing Ardova Handball Premier League in Benin, Edo State, Imo Grasshoppers and Rivers Queens played out a pulsating  23-23 draw.

Though Rivers Queens raced  in front with a 13-8 scores in the first half, Imo Grasshoppers clawed back into the game to tie the game in regulation time.

 In other games played in the female category, Plateau Peacocks defeated Ekiti Queens 37-18 with the first half ending 18-11 in favour of Peacocks.

In the male category, Rima Strikers defeated Adamawa Warriors 27-23, Niger United trounced Lagos Seasiders 30-25, while Safety Shooters beat Benue Buffaloes 26-22.

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The coach of Ekiti Queens, Ayo-Idowu Kayode remains upbeat despite his young team losing its first two games in the ongoing Ardova Handball Premier League in Benin, Edo State.

The debutants lost 59-29 to Safety Babes on Monday and suffered another defeat to Plateau Peacocks  as they were beaten 37-18.

However, Kayode expressed optimism over the fortunes of his inexperienced team, who he said, he has been coaching from the under 12 level.

He said: “The experience we have had in the first two days is worthy. This is the first time I am coaching at this level and my players are also playing in the elite league for the first time.

“Playing at this tournament is an eye opener for me, the players and Ekiti State who invest most on football.”

He noted that the standard of the league is high with teams contesting fiercely in their pursuit of glory. He also said it is a beauty to watch how teams tinker with their tactics to boost their chances of winning games.

He, however, said that his team would improve with each game to better its chances of winning some games: “We lost with a wide margin against Safety Babes on Monday but the margin was better against Plateau Peacocks.”

Defending champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League,  Tojemarine Academy and Safety Babes will begin the defence  in Benin, Edo State.

In  the fixtures released by the Handball Federation of Nigeria through the tournament’s  director of the league, Shina Sanya, Tojemarine Academy will take on newly-promoted Osun United while Safety Babes, who are in search of their fifth consecutive title, take on new-entrants, Ekiti Queens in a game expected to be a thriller.

In the other Day One fixtures in the female category, former champion Plateau Peacocks take on Rivers Queens while the champion of the National Division One League Soof Omo Ogiefo of Benin begin their sojourn in the Ardova Handball Premier League against Defender Babes. Rima Queens of Sokoto will play against Delta Queens.

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In other games in the male category, Rima Strikers of Sokoto will face returning COAS Shooters while two-time champion, Niger United will play Adamawa United while  another former champions Safety Shooters battle Seasiders Boys of Lagos.

Also, Correction Boys of the Nigeria Prisons will play De Defenders of the Nigeria Civil Defense while Benue Buffaloes of Makurdi would have to wait till Wednesday to begin their campaign in the league.

The President of the HFN, Samuel Ocheho, while welcoming the team to Benin, urged them to eschew violence and adhere strictly to the rules governing the competition.

He noted that the players who are the ambassadors of the game, would be the main focus while commending the coaches, the technical department and other stakeholders for their contributions towards an expected hitch-free competition.

He also commended Ardova PLC for bankrolling the league, noting that the history of the game in the country would not be complete without the mention of Ardova.

He added: “I urge the teams to eschew violence and adhere strictly to the rules governing the competition, while I commend Ardova PLC for their sponsorship.”

For Tojemarine Academy  and Safety Babes, it was a classic case of ‘Come, see, and conquer’ as they were both  crowned champions  as  the second phase  of the  2024 Ardova Handball Premier League climaxed on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos.

Tojemarine Handball Club finished top of the men’s  category league table with 64 points following their 36-33 victory over second-placed Rima Strikers of Sokoto with 59 points to undoubtedly win the title for the first time in their history.

They also make history as the first team based in the South to win the league in the era between 2017 and 2024.

Niger United, who were the defending champion, defeated Corrections Boys 38-24 to finish  third with 58 points while Safety Shooters finished outside of the podium for the first time since 2019 to finish in fourth position with 57 points despite beating their 7^th-placed Abuja  city rival, De-Defenders 27-21.

Sunshine Kings will return to the division one following their relegation from the Ardova Handball Premier League following  their 29-22 loss to former champion Kano Pillars and they will be joined in the lower  rung  of the men’s category by  Confluence Stars.

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Kano Pillars ended the league in fifth position with 47 points.

Adamawa Warriors escaped relegation on the final day with a 35-33 victory over Seasiders Boys of Lagos. They finished 10th with 33 points and their player Friday Pagiel Saipwa helped their situation by scoring vital goals to be the highest goal scorer with 151 goals.

In the women category, Safety Babes won an unprecedented fourth successive  Ardova Handball Premier League title and their fifth  overall title.

They  defeated  their Abuja rivals and second placed team, Defender Babes 36-32 to finish top of the league with 54 points- nine points above Defender Babes.

That victory stretched their winning streak to 53 matches since 2022 . In 55 matches they have won 53 matches, drawn 1 and lost a match which happened to be a dead rubber game against Defender Babes in 2022 when they also won the league.

Defender Babes can raise their heads high as they end the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 in 2nd place with 45 points.

They also produced the highest goal scorer of the league in Abdulrasaq Idowu Bolanle who had 151 goals

Imo Grasshoppers finished fourth with 40 points as they lost to Rima Queens 33-31 in a fierce third placed battle which could have seen either side finish on the podium.

Rima Queens won that battle and finished in third position with 41 points.

Imo Grasshoppers had something to celebrate though as their star player Ohakwe Udochukwu was voted as the most valuable player of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024.

COAS Babes and Bendel Dynamos have been relegated from the league.

The finale was witnessed by the top management of Ardova PLC led by Chairman, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, representative of the DG of the National Sports Commission and other top invited guests.

Defending Champions, Safety Babes and rave of the moment, Tojemarine Academy have emerged leaders after the end of the first phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League, which ended in Benin, Edo State on Friday.

The two teams are yet to drop a point in the competition and a repeat performance in Lagos in the second phase later this year, will see both teams being crowned champions.

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Tojemarine Academy finished the first phase unbeaten and leading the men category league log with 33 points following their 36-26 victory over Benue Buffaloes on day 11. They are four points better than Rima Strikers who finished  in second place with 29 points after they defeated De:Defenders 32-25.

Defending champion, Niger United ended the phase 1 on a losing note following their 25-20 defeat against former champion Safety Shooters. The Minna side also have 29 points alongside Rima Strikers but they are in third position having conceded more goals while Safety Shooters are in fourth position with 27 points.

Kano Pillars ended the phase 1 on a winning note as they defeated Sunshine Kings 24-22.