Safety teams begin Ardova Handball League title defence

Defending champions Safety Shooters and Safety Babes will begin their respective title campaigns when the 2026 Ardova Handball Premier League serves off in Lagos on November 7.

The two Federal Road Safety Corps-owned teams will be seeking to maintain their dominance in the competition, with the women’s side particularly aiming to extend a remarkable run of success.

Safety Babes, who won an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s title last season, will be targeting a sixth straight crown and their seventh overall since the league began in 2018. Their men’s counterparts, Safety Shooters, will also be hoping to retain the title they won last season.

According to the fixtures released by the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Safety Shooters will open their campaign against newly promoted U & H Abia at the National Institute for Sports Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, on the opening day.

Safety Babes will face debutants Funad Academy at the same venue as they begin their quest to maintain their grip on the women’s competition.

Other men’s fixtures on the opening day will see COAS Shooters take on Kano Pillars at Rowe Park, Yaba, while Benue Buffaloes face Niger United. Osun United will battle Correction Boys, De Defenders meet 2024 champions Tojemarine Academy, while newcomers NAF Rockets face Rima Striker of Sokoto.

In the women’s category, 2018 champions Plateau Peacocks will take on Defender Babes, Rima Queens face Rivers Queens, Imo Grasshoppers meet SOOF, while Ekiti Queens battle Omo Ogiefo Academy.

The 2026 edition will feature 12 teams in the men’s category and 10 in the women’s competition, with matches taking place at the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, and Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, from November 7 to 21.

The preliminary round will run until November 17, with the top eight teams in each category progressing to the quarter-finals on November 19. The semi-finals will follow on November 20, while the third-place matches and finals are scheduled for November 21.