Adamawa Warriors virtually did the improbable, by upsetting Nigeria Army handball team, aka the Chief of Army Staff Shooters, by inflicting a 40-35 defeat on them, on Day-5 of the 2023 National Division One Handball League, being staged in Benin City, Edo State.
With the victory, Adamawa Warriors gained promotion into the Ardova Handball Premier League for the very first time in their history alongside Sunshine Kings of Akure.
Sunshine Kings will be making a return to the nation’s top tier league after defeating Nasarawa Ambassadors 25-22 on Day 5.
COAS Shooters were comfortably seated at the top of the men’s log, with four straight victories before succumbing to a the superior firepower of Adamawa Warriors, who edged the semifinal tie 40-35; with spectators that trooped into the indoor sports hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, seated at the edge of their seats, while the duel lasted.
In the women’s category, high-flying Rivers Queens ruthlessly defeated Fountain Babes 43-12 to confirm their promotion into the Ardova Handball Premier League; and they will be joined by COAS Babes, who also humiliated Team UNIBEN with a 38-15 victory to gain promotion into the Ardova Handball Premier League.
Meanwhile, the
North-East Zonal Representative, on the board of HFN, Alhaji Hussaini Mohammed Abdulqadir has warmly congratulated Adamawa Warriors on their qualification to the Ardova Handball Premier league.
In a statement made available made available to Sports Day, Alhaji Abdulkadir also encouraged the players and officials to go all out and clinch the division one trophy, by winning the final against Sunshine Kings.