Defender Babes, Safety Shooters are champions of North Central Handball Championship

Handball

The NSCDC Defender Babes of Abuja has been crowned champions of the third North Central Handball Championships.

The team braved the odds to down its archrivals, FRSC Safety Babes 35-26, in a tense finale, which ended on Friday evening, in Makurdi, Benue State.

After Thursday’s penultimate games were decided, Plateau Peacocks of Jos, with seven points, but a rather precarious superior goals difference of +4, appeared to be the favourites to win the crown; having been the first team to beat the women defending champions, FRSC Safety Babes 29-28, on Wednesday.

But the Defender Babes had better ideas, knowing that a win, that’s two points gained, with a goals difference of +5 or more, will be enough to beat their more illustrious city rivals, Safety Babes, and the Peacocks from Jos.

Peacocks eventually came second, while the dethroned champions, with two losses in the hands of their main opponents, settled for third.

The last two spots were occupied by teams from the host state, as Benue Queens finished fourth with four points; while Dream Girls of Gboko came fifth with zero points.

Meanwhile, FRSC Safety Shooters of Abuja successfully defended their men’s title, beating Niger United of Minna 28-22, to win the tournament with 14 points and a 100 percent win record. The thrilling finale did not disappoint spectators at the Aper Aku Stadium.

The nine points won by Confluence Stars put them one point clear of Benue Buffaloes, whose own enthralling 16-14 victory over Plateau Viper of Jos, took their points tally to eight. The other Abuja-based team, Poverty Fighters, ended their debut campaign on a high note by beating Suleja Shooters 30-20. The victory meant they finished with three wins, a draw and three losses, to place