Safety Babes Sweep Past Plateau Peacocks to Extend Dominance in Ardova Handball League

Defending champions, Safety Babes, continued their ruthless form at the Ardova Handball Premier League 2025 Phase 1 with a commanding 32–21 victory over Plateau Peacocks on Day 9 of action in Benin City, Edo State.

The title holders, who are gunning for an unprecedented quintuple ( five-peat) of titles, showed their class once again, leading 16–13 at halftime before stepping up the tempo in the second half to pull away from the Peacocks, who struggled to match their intensity and depth. Safety Babes remain unbeaten thus far

In other matches in the female category, Rima Queens outclassed Ekiti Queens 43–23 in a one-sided affair wherein they dominated from the start, taking a 22–14 lead into the break before cruising to a comfortable win while Imo Grasshoppers edged Defender Babes 31–27 in a tightly contested match.
Both sides were locked 18–18 at halftime, but the Grasshoppers found an extra gear in the second half to secure the vital points.

In the men’s category, Benue Buffaloes recorded a slim 27–25 win over Lagos Seasiders in one of the day’s most competitive games as Buffaloes held a narrow 13–12 lead at halftime and did just enough in the second half to keep the Seasiders at bay.

Elsewhere, De Defenders defeated Adamawa Warriors 27–24 in a match that was finely balanced at halftime (14–14), while COAS Shooters overcame Correction Boys 28–24, having led 12–11 at the break.

Safety Shooters wrapped up the day’s proceedings with a solid 24–16 win over Rima Strikers, pulling away in the second half after a tight 10–9 first period.

RESULTS OF DAY 9 MATCHES. 

FEMALE::

1) Ekiti Queens–Rima Queens 23–43 (14–22). 

2) Plateau Peacocks–Safety Babes 21–32 (13–16). 

3) Defender Babes–Imo Grasshoppers 27–31 (18–18). 

MALE::

1) De Defenders– Adamawa Warriors 27–24 (14–14).

2) Benue Buffaloes–Lagos Seasiders 27–25 (13–12). 

3) Correction Boys–COAS Shooters 24–28 (11–12). 

4) Rima Strikers–Safety Shooters 16–24 (09–10).