_Sokoto’s Rima Strikers, Queens, Also In the Mix_ By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The first phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League, came to a rousing end on Friday,
at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, in Benin City, with teams from the North Central, underlining the credentials of the zone, as the mainstay of Handball in Nigeria.
FRSC teams who are both based in Abuja, Safety Shooters (men) and Safety Babes (women) , finished on top of the table of their respective championships.
Safety Shooters who are looking to reclaim the title they last won in 2018 sealed top spot in the men’s standings with a convincing 26–20 victory over Niger United of Minna, to finish with 28 points from 10 matches, and a record of 9 wins, and solitary loss.
Remarkably their only loss was to Army team, COAS Shooters, which is also based in Abuja; and both sides are on 28 points apiece; but the more illustrious Safety Shooters are top virtue of a league-high 322 goals scored and a staggering +91 goal difference.
On their part, COAS Shooters wrapped up their phase with a dominant 38–31 win over De NSCDC Defenders of Abuja, to take their goals difference +50, at the expense of De Defenders who finished Phase 1 in 5th.
Rima Strikers completed the top-three, and on 25 points, thanks to their seven wins, one draw, and two defeats in 10 matches; whilst men’s defending champions Tojemarine Academy of Lagos, with 24 points, are not far away from the big guns.
Correction Boys of Abuja (22 points) placed 5th, Niger United of Minna with 19 points, held on to 6th position, despite losing 20-26 to Safety Shooters; Osun United edged Benue Buffaloes 20–19 on Friday and finished in 7th spot with 19 points, but had an inferior goal difference to the Ikon Allah Boys.
De Defenders (8th), Adamawa Warriors (9th) after a 28-21dedeat of Lagos Seasiders (11th), and
Benue Buffaloes (10th), are the men’s teams in the Red Zone, going to the 2nd phase.
Aside from Safety Babes Benue Buffaloeswhich remained invincible in Benin, and won all of their fixtures to top the women’s log with 21 points, amassing a +69 goal difference, having scored 242 goals, while conceding just 173; only has Rima Queens of Sokoto as the side capable of scuttling their aspiration of winning an unprecedented quintuple (5-peat) of titles.
Rima Queens solidified their second-place finish with a thrilling 34–31 (15–18) comeback victory over Soof Omo Ogiefo of Benin on Friday, and ended Phase 1 with 22 points — just one behind Safety Babes.
Plateau Peacocks of Jos are in 3rd with 15 points, while Imo Grasshoppers of Owerri, and Soof Omo Ogiefo followed in 4th and 5th places.
Rivers Queens (6th), NSCDC Defender Babes of Abuja (7th), and Ekiti Queens who failed to win a single game (8th), are the other sides in the women’s standings.
With Phase 1 concluded, attention will now shift to the decisive second phase of the Ardova Plc sponsored Handball Premier League, in Lagos, where the champions will be crowned, and the battle for survival decided.
