Head coach of Niger United handball team Yekini Adebayo has said that his side is determined to reclaim the Ardova Handball Premier League title this year, after another gritty performance saw them edge past Benue Buffaloes 21-17 in their third victory of the season.
The match, held on Thursday in Benin City, Edo State, formed part of the ongoing first phase of the elite handball championship.
Both teams started strongly, with early exchanges producing a tightly contested first half. However, Niger United gradually took control and went into the break with an 11-8 lead. The Buffaloes attempted a second-half comeback, but Niger United’s experience and composure saw them maintain the edge until the final whistle.
Adebayo, a former national team utility player, believes this year could be their time to return to the top, after narrowly missing out on the title in the last two seasons.
“We won the league three years ago, and it would be a great relief to lift the trophy again,” Adebayo said after the win. “The league is very competitive, but we have trained hard and our ambition is clear—we want to be champions.”
Niger United currently sit among the top contenders as the race for Phase One dominance heats up.
Other Men’s Results
In other matches played on Thursday:
Safety Shooters delivered a commanding performance to defeat De Defenders 38-27. The Shooters led 18-15 at halftime before pulling away with a dominant second-half display. Meanwhile, COAS Shooters proved too strong for Osun United, claiming a 25-13 win. The military side stamped their authority early, racing to a 14-4 halftime lead and never looked back. Tojemarine HBC, one of the title contenders, bounced back from a surprise loss to COAS Shooters in their last outing to grind out a narrow 29-27 victory over a spirited Adamawa Warriors side. Tojemarine, who were shaky at times, relied on key saves and late goals to secure the points. Rima Strikers recorded the biggest win of Day 3 with a resounding 32-17 victory over Lagos Seasiders.
Women’s Category
In the women’s competition, Rima Queens maintained their fine form with a comprehensive 33-23 win over Rivers Queens. The Sokoto-based team dominated the first half (16-8) and kept up the intensity to close out the game with an 11-goal margin.
In one of the most dramatic comebacks of the day, Imo Grasshoppers overturned a 15-10 halftime deficit to edge past Ekiti Queens 29-27. The Grasshoppers, multiple-time national champions, showed resilience and tactical discipline in the second half to seal a memorable win. Plateau Peacocks got the better of Omo Ogiefo 26-21 in a tightly contested Day 3 last game.
The Ardova Handball Premier League, Nigeria’s top-tier handball competition, features the best male and female teams in the country. The first phase in Benin will continue through next week, after which teams will prepare for the decisive second phase later in the year.