The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)-backed teams dominated the Nigerian handball scene as Safety Shooters (Men) and Safety Babes (Women) were crowned champions of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League Grand Finale in Lagos, achieving a historic ‘double’ victory for the organization.
The thrilling climax of the season-long competition took place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Surulere, on the 5th December, 2025, reinforcing the league’s reputation as the premier handball event in West Africa.
In the Men’s category, the Safety Shooters sealed a dominant campaign by defeating COAS Shooters 43-32, claiming the men’s title for the first time since 2020. The victory capped off a brilliant season that saw them finish atop the table with 57 points, underscoring their superiority throughout the two phases of the league, which began in Benin City and concluded in Lagos.
In the Women’s category, Safety Babes secured an unprecedented record, clinching their fifth consecutive women’s championship and their sixth title overall. The defending champions displayed resilience by overturning a halftime deficit to defeat rivals Rima Queens 27-24 in a fiercely contested final-day fixture, solidifying their status as the most dominant team in the league’s history.
In his first official speech, the President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Saidu Ojih, praised the commitment of the league sponsor, Ardova PLC, for its transformative impact on the sport.
“Ardova PLC’s continued partnership has helped in transforming the Ardova Handball Premier League into a competition recognised both locally and internationally,” President Ojih stated. “Your sponsorship has played a major role not only in supporting the league but also in re-establishing handball as a sport that Nigerians can proudly identify with.”
The President highlighted the league’s critical role in talent development, noting that many participants are current members of the national team preparing for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Rwanda (January 21st to 31st, 2026).
Furthermore, he pointed to the league’s contribution to capacity building, mentioning that coaches have attained International Handball Federation (IHF) licenses and referees have gained global recognition through the platform.
President Ojih made a sincere appeal for the renewal of the league’s sponsorship, assuring the company that the new HFN board is committed to deepening the partnership and ensuring the investment continues to deliver national impact and long-term sustainability.
The HFN President also highlighted the Federation’s focus on ethical conduct, noting that through Ardova’s support, the HFN successfully organized an Anti-Doping Education and Awareness interactive session with players and technical officials.
The successful conclusion of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League is seen as a major step toward consolidating the growth of the sport, with the HFN board pledging to build on the foundation laid by previous administrations to continuously improve developmental strides in Nigerian handball.
The grand finale was attended by top dignitaries, including representatives of Ardova PLC, who described the season as “delightful to watch” and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the development of handball in Nigeria.
-backed teams dominated the Nigerian handball scene as Safety Shooters (Men) and Safety Babes (Women) were crowned champions of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League Grand Finale in Lagos, achieving a historic 'double' victory for the organization.){kind=link}