Tojemarine HC, Safety Babes, crowned champion of Ardova Handball Premier League 2024

Posted : 09 December 2024

Tojemarine Handball Club and Safety Babes were crowned champions of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 on Sunday at the grand finale of Phase 2, held at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos.

Tojemarine Handball Club topped the men’s league table with 64 points after a 36-33 victory over second-placed Rima Strikers of Sokoto, who finished with 59 points, securing the title for the first time in their history.

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They also made history as the first team based in the South to win the league in this era (2017 to 2024) and the first South-West team to ever win the league.

Niger United, the defending champions, defeated Corrections Boys 38-24 to finish third with 58 points, while Safety Shooters finished outside the podium for the first time since 2019, in fourth place with 57 points, despite beating their 7th-placed Abuja rival, De-Defenders, 27-21.

Sunshine Kings will return to Division One following their relegation from the Ardova Handball Premier League, which was caused by their 29-22 loss to former champions Kano Pillars.

Sunshine Kings, along with Confluence Stars, have been relegated from the men’s league.

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

Adamawa Warriors escaped relegation on the final day with a 35-33 victory over Seasider Boys of Lagos. They finished 10th with 33 points, and their player, Friday Pagiel Saipwa, helped their cause by scoring vital goals, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 151 goals.

In the women’s category, Safety Babes won an unprecedented fourth Ardova Handball Premier League title in a row and their fifth overall, defeating their Abuja rivals and second-placed Defender Babes 36-32 to finish top of the league with 54 points, nine points ahead of Defender Babes.

That victory extended their winning streak to 53 matches since 2022. In 55 matches, they have won 53, drawn 1, and lost 1, which occurred in a dead-rubber game against Defender Babes in 2022, when they also won the league.

Defender Babes can hold their heads high, finishing the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 in second place with 45 points. They also produced the league’s highest goal scorer in Abdulrasaq Idowu Bolanle, who scored 151 goals.

Imo Grasshoppers finished fourth with 40 points after losing to Rima Queens 33-31 in a fierce battle for third place, which could have seen either side finish on the podium.

Rima Queens won that battle and finished in third place with 41 points.

Imo Grasshoppers had something to celebrate, however, as their star player, Ohakwe Udochukwu, was voted the most valuable player of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024.

COAS Babes and Bendel Dynamos were relegated from the league.

The finale was witnessed by the top management of Ardova PLC, led by Chairman Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, a representative of the DG of the National Sports Commission, and other top invited guests.

Men’s Category Final Standings:

Tojemarine HC
Rima Strikers
Niger United

Women’s Category Final Standings:

Safety Babes
Defender Babes
Rima Queens

Results of Match Day 12:

Female:

Rima Queens 33–31 Imo Grasshoppers
Defender Babes 32–36 Safety Babes

Male:

Lagos Seasiders 33–35 Adamawa Warriors
Corrections Boys 24–38 Niger United
Benue Buffaloes 10–00 Confluence Stars (W/O)
Safety Shooters 27–21 De-Defenders
Sunshine Kings 22–29 Kano Pillars
Tojemarine Academy 36–33 Rima Strikers

Tojemarine HC, Safety Babes, crowned champion of Ardova Handball Premier League 2024

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