Safety Shooters and Safety Babes of Abuja ended the first phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League, at the weekend, on top of the men’s and women’s ladder respectively.

The first phase of the league ended on Friday, at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

According to the league table released on Saturday by the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), sitting atop the ladder in the men’s class is Safety Shooters, which amassed 28 points from 10 games, same as the COAS Shooters, who are second on inferior goal difference.

Both teams lost a game each.

Third on the log is Rima Strikers with seven wins, a draw and two losses, which amount to 25 points, while defending champions, Tojemarine Academy, are fourth with six wins, two draws and two defeats and a total of 24 points.

Correction Boys are in the fifth position having won five games, drawn two and lost three to finish with 22 points.

In sixth position are former champions, Niger United. The Minna team won four games, drew one and lost five to amass 19 points. Seventh-placed Osun United also has 19 points, but with an inferior goal difference to Niger.

With three wins and seven losses, De defenders are placed eighth with 16 points, just as ninth placed Adamawa Warriors have 15 points after winning two games, drawing one and losing seven.

Benue Buffaloes and Lagos Islanders are placed 10th and 11th respectively. Both teams won one game and lost nine to end the phase with 12 points with Buffaloes occupying the 10th place on superior goal difference to Lagos Seasiders.

Safety Babes lead the women’s category having won all their seven games to emerge tops with 21 points, while Rima Queens are second with 19 points from six wins and one loss.

In third place are Plateau Peacocks with 15 points from four wins and three draws. Imo Grasshoppers finished in fourth place with three wins, three losses and one draw to amass 14 points, with Omo Ogiefo Academy in fifth place. They won three games and lost four to garner 13 points. Rivers Queens are sixth with two wins, two draws and three defeats to end the phase with 13 points.

Defender Babes have one win, six losses from seven games amounting to 10 points to place seventh, while Ekiti Queens, who lost all their games, only managed to get seven points.