Safety Shooters and Safety Babes will begin their respective title defence campaigns at the 2026 Ardova Handball Premier League scheduled to hold from Nov. 7 to Nov. 21 in Lagos.
The two teams, owned by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), will seek to sustain their dominance in the men’s and women’s categories.
While Safety Shooters will be aiming to retain their men’s title, Safety Babes will be seeking to extend their impressive record in the women’s competition.
Recall that Safety Babes made history last season by winning their fifth consecutive league title, taking their overall tally to six since the competition began in 2018.
The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) on Saturday released fixtures for the 2026 edition of the competition.
According to the fixtures, Safety Shooters will begin their campaign against newly promoted U & H Abia at the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere.
Safety Babes will also open their title defence against debutants Funad Academy at the same venue.
Other men’s opening-day fixtures will see COAS Shooters take on Kano Pillars, while Benue Buffaloes confront Niger United.
Osun United will battle Correction Boys, while De Defenders face 2024 champions Tojemarine Academy.
Newcomers NAF Rockets will also test their strength against Rima Strikers of Sokoto.
In the women’s category, 2018 champions Plateau Peacocks will face Defender Babes, while Rima Queens take on Rivers Queens.
Imo Grasshoppers will battle SOOF, while Ekiti Queens will confront Omo Ogiefo Academy.
The 2026 edition will feature 12 teams in the men’s category and 10 in the women’s competition.
Matches will be played at the NIS Indoor Sports Hall, Surulere, and Rowe Park Sports Complex, Yaba, from Nov. 7 to Nov. 21.
The preliminary round will end on Nov. 17, with the top eight teams in each category advancing to the quarter-finals scheduled for Nov. 19.
The semi-finals will hold on Nov. 20, while the third-place matches and finals are scheduled for Nov. 21.
The final matches will determine the champions in the men’s and women’s categories.
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