The much-expected Nigerian Premier Handball League for men and women is set to start next Saturday, November 1st at Rowe Park Sports Complex and the National Stadium, both in Lagos.
Sports247 gathered that, while the men’s category, with Safety Shooters of Abuja as defending champions, will take place in the National Institute for Sports (NIS) gymnasium hall, the female contest will hold at Rowe Park in Yaba area of Lagos metropolis.
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Female defending champions, Safety Babes and the league’s male title holders are both owned by Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who have already started talking about another clean sweep in the competition that is officially known as 2026 Ardova Handball Premier League.
A preview by Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) press officer and media commission vice-chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka Akisi noted that, while Safety Shooters aim to retain the men’s gong, Safety Babes will try to continue dominating the women’s set with a record extending sixth straight title and seventh overall since the competition began in 2018.
Akisi added, “Safety Shooters will open their campaign against newly promoted U&H Abia in the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere on the opening day, while Safety Babes will begin their title defence against debutant Funad Academy at the same venue.
“In the men’s category, the opening-day fixtures will also see COAS Shooters take on Kano Pillars at Rowe Park, Benue Buffaloes face Niger United while Osun United battle Correction Boys. De Defenders will also play 2024 champions, Tojemarine Academy, while newcomer NAF Rockets takes on Rima Striker of Sokoto.
“The women’s category will have four other fixtures on Matchday 1, with 2018 champions, Plateau Peacocks facing Defender Babes and Rima Queens taking on Rivers Queens while Imo Grasshoppers will meet SOOF andcEkiti Queens battle Omo Ogiefo Academy.”
Sports247 gathered further that this year’s competition, which will end on November 21st, will feature 12 teams in the men’s category and 10 for the women, with the preliminary rounds holding until November 17th, after which the top eight teams advance to the quarter-finals.
While the last eight games in both categories hold on November 19th, the semi-finals are billed for the 20th, with the third-place games as well as finals to determine 2026 champions for men and women scheduled to hold on November 21st.
