By Chinedum Ohanusi
The second and concluding phase of the 2025 Ardover Handball Premier League, has ended in Lagos, with FRSC Teams, the Safety Shooters, and Safety Babes crowned Champions, in both categories.
The 2nd please games largely held at the Rowe Park, in Yaba, and the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Surulere, Lagos, ended on Friday as fans of the two teams owned by the FRSC, and Coached by one of the best tacticians around, Innocent Nwankwo erupted in celebration of a there accomplishment.
Shooters and Safety Babes, were crowned champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, following an elaborate finale graced by members of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) board and top executives of Ardova Plc.
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025 began with the first phase in Benin City months ago before the second phase in Lagos, ended with a finale that the representative of the headline sponsors, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, the Deputy Managing Director of Ardova Plc, describing the games as highly competitive, and delightful to watch.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches; while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (led 20–10 at the interval) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
Rima Strikers, who pushed the champions for much of the season, ended in second place with 52 points, despite losing 27–26 to Correction Boys in a tightly contested match while COAS Shooters finished third with 51 points, closing the campaign with a fourth defeat but maintaining their place among the top sides.
Elsewhere in the final-day fixtures, De Defenders defeated Osun United 31–23, Niger United narrowly lost to Tojemarine Academy 27–28, while Benue Buffaloes were awarded a walkover win against Adamawa Warriors.
In the women’s category, Safety Babes sealed their fifth straight crown with a disciplined 27–24 win over second-placed Rima Queens.
Despite trailing at halftime, the champions showed their trademark resilience and tactical brilliance to turn the match around to win their 6th premier league title
Safety Babes ended the season with 13 wins from 14 matches, amassing 40 points and an impressive goal difference of +128 (486–358) while Rima Queens finished second with 31 points, while Omo Ogiefo Academy placed third with 32 points after a solid campaign.
Friday’s closing ceremony celebrated not only the league champions but also the growth and increasing professionalism in Nigerian handball with the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Mr. Jibril Saidu Ojih, appealing to the management of Ardova Plc to continue the partnership alongside HFN as sponsor of the premier league which has aided and created top players who are in the national teams.
On their part, the management of Ardova Plc made a commitment to continue to collaborate with the board of the Federation in the continued efforts to develop the game through the league.
