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Tojemarine Handball Club and Safety Babes were crowned champions of the 2024 Ardova Handball Premier League at the grand finale of the phase 2 in the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Institute of Sports, Lagos.
Tojemarine Handball Club finished top of the men’s category league table with 64 points following their 36-33 victory over second placed Rima Strikers of Sokoto with 59 points to undoubtedly win the title for the first time in their history.
They also make history as the first team based in the South to win the league in this era (2017 to 2024 era). They are the South-West team to ever win the league.
Niger United, who were the defending champion, defeated Corrections Boys 38-24 to finish third with 58 points while Safety Shooters finished outside of the podium for the first time since 2019 to finish in fourth position with 57 points despite beating their 7th placed Abuja city rival De-Defenders 27-21.
Sunshine Kings will return to the division one following their relegation from the Ardova Handball Premier League as a result of their 29-22 loss to former champions Kano Pillars.
Sunshine Kings alongside Confluence Stars have been relegated from the men’s league.
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 finished 10th with 33 points and their player Friday Pagiel Saipwa helped their situation by scoring vital goals to be the highest goal scorer with 151 goals.
In the women category, Safety Babes won an unprecedented fourth Ardova Handball Premier League title on the stretch, and their overall fifth title and they did that by defeating their Abuja rivals and second placed Defender Babes 36-32 to finish top of the league with 54 points; nine points above Defender Babes.
That victory stretched their winning streak to 53 matches since 2022 .
In 55 matches they have won 53 matches, drawn 1 and lost a match which happened to be a dead rubber game against Defender Babes in 2022 when they also won the league.
Defender Babes can raise their heads high as they end the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024 in 2nd place with 45 points.
They also produced the highest goal scorer of the league in Abdulrasaq Idowu Bolanle who had 151 goals
Imo Grasshoppers finished fourth with 40 points as they lost to Rima Queens 33-31 in a fierce third placed battle which could have seen either side finish on the podium.
Rima Queens won that battle and finished in third position with 41 points.
Imo Grasshoppers had something to celebrate though as their star player Ohakwe Udochukwu was voted as the most valuable player of the Ardova Handball Premier League 2024.
COAS Babes and Bendel Dynamos have been relegated fron the league.
The finale was witnessed by the top management of Ardova PLC led by Chairman, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, representative of the DG of the National Sports Commission and other top invited guests.
Men Category Final Log:
1) Tojemarine HC
2) Rima Strikers
3) Niger United
Women Category Final Log:
1) Safety Babes
2) Defender Babes
3) Rima Queens
RESULTS OF MATCH DAY 12
FEMALE:
1) Rima Queens–Imo Grasshoppers 33–31.
2) Defender Babes–Safety Babes 32–36.
MALE:
1) Lagos Seasiders–Adamawa Warriors 33–35.
2) Correction Boys-Niger United 24–38.
3) Benue Buffaloes–Confluence Stars 10–00. (W/O).
4) Safety Shooters–D:Defenders 27–21.
5) Sunshine Kings–Kano Pillars 22–29.
6) Tojemarine Academy–Rima Strikers 36–33.
