HFN unveils ambitious 2026 calendar to deepen handball growth nationwide

Posted : 28 May 2026

The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has unveiled an ambitious lineup of activities for the remainder of the 2026 season as it intensifies efforts to expand the game across the country and strengthen its domestic structure.

Coming on the heels of Nigeria’s impressive participation at various African championships earlier this year involving the senior men’s national team and the Under-18 and Under-20 squads, the federation is now shifting attention toward grassroots development, talent discovery, and domestic competitiveness.

With several major championships scheduled across different regions of the country, the HFN believes the packed calendar will further boost the popularity and visibility of handball nationwide.

The first major event on the schedule is the innovative 4×4 Handball Championship slated for June 16 to 19 in Makurdi, Benue State. Designed as a faster and more intense version of traditional handball, the competition is expected to introduce a fresh dimension to the sport by emphasizing speed, agility, and quick tactical play.

According to the federation, the championship forms part of its broader strategy to take handball to all six geopolitical zones and create more opportunities for young players to showcase their talents. The competition will eventually climax with a grand finale in Yola, Adamawa State.

Attention will then shift to Lafia, Nasarawa State, for the North-Central Handball Championship scheduled for July 12 to 18. The regional tournament is expected to attract top club sides and state teams from across the zone, while also serving as a key platform for talent identification and player development.

The competition is viewed as an important pathway for emerging players seeking opportunities to break into the national scene and top domestic clubs.

The highlight of the federation’s domestic calendar will come in August when the 2026 Handball Premier League takes centre stage at the Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The elite men and women league will feature some of the country’s biggest handball clubs battling for national honours and continental qualification spots.

Top men’s teams expected at the championship include Safety Shooters, Sokoto Rima, COAS Shooters, Niger United, Osun United, Tojemarine Academy, and Kano Pillars, while leading women’s clubs such as Safety Babes, Defender Babes, Rivers Queens, Plateau Peacocks, SOOF, and Rima Queens will also compete for supremacy.

The HFN believes the busy calendar reflects its determination to reposition Nigerian handball through innovation, stronger competitions, and wider grassroots participation.

By establishing structured tournaments from the regional level to the elite league, the federation provides a sustainable pathway for discovering and nurturing raw talents. These strategic initiatives are poised to elevate the standard of the domestic game and guarantee long-term international competitiveness for Nigerian handball teams.

HFN unveils ambitious 2026 calendar to deepen handball growth nationwide

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