Tojemarine Academy, Safety Babes win Ardova Handball Premier League

Tojemarine Handball Club and Safety Babes, at the weekend, became champions of the 2024 Ardova Handball Premier League following outstanding performances in the phase two of the competition held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos.

Tojemarine finished top of the men’s league table with 64 points following their 36-33 victory over second placed Rima Strikers of Sokoto, which ended with 59 points.

It was Tojemarine’s first league title in their history. They also made history as the first team based in the South to win the league in this era (2017 to 2024 era).

Defending champions, Niger United, defeated Correction Boys 38-24 to finish third with 58 points, while Safety Shooters finished outside the podium for the first time since 2019.

They ended in the fourth position with 57 points despite beating their seventh-placed Abuja city rivals, De-Defenders, 27-21.

For not meeting the required standards, Sunshine Kings will return to the division one following their relegation from the Ardova Handball Premier League. This demotion was hastened by their 29-22 loss to former champions, Kano Pillars.

Sunshine Kings are joined in the relegation train by Confluence Stars.

Kano Pillars ended the league in fifth position with 47 points.

Adamawa Warriors escaped relegation on the final day with a 35-33 victory over Seasider Boys of Lagos. They owed their 10th place finish with 33 points to the marvelous performance of Friday Pagiel Saipwa, who scored vital goals to win the highest goal scorer award with 151 goals.

In the women’s category, Safety Babes won an unprecedented fourth league title on the stretch and their overall fifth by defeating their Abuja rivals and second placed Defender Babes 36-32 to finish