By the fixtures released by the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Safety Shooters will open their campaign against U & H Abia at the NIS Sports Hall,
Editor
Safety Shooters and Safety Babes, both owned by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), will begin the defence of their respective titles when the 2026 Ardova Handball Premier League gets underway in Lagos on Saturday, November 7.
While Safety Shooters will be aiming to retain their men’s title, Safety Babes will be looking to extend their remarkable dominance in the women’s category after winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title last season. The Abuja-based side has now won six titles since the competition began in 2018.
According to the fixtures released by the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Safety Shooters will open their campaign against newly promoted U & H Abia at the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere on the opening day, while Safety Babes will begin their title defence against debutante 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 play 2024 champions Tojemarine Academy, while newcomer NAF Rockets take on Rima Striker of Sokoto
The women’s category will have four other fixtures on Matchday 1, with 2018 champion Plateau Peacocks facing Defender Babes, Rima Queens taking on Rivers Queens, while Imo Grasshoppers will meet SOOF.
Ekiti Queens will 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 scheduled for 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, after which the top eight teams in each category will advance to the quarter-finals on November 19.
The semi-finals are scheduled for November 20, while the third-place matches and finals will take place on November 21 to determine the champions in both categories.
