HFN Unveils Plans For 2025 National Division One League

The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has announced that the National Division One League 2025 will be held in Umuahia, Abia State in August.

In a statement signed by the Secretary General of HFN Mrs Monica Otumala, the National Division One League, which is the promotional league into the top tier handball league, will take center stage from the 7th to the 18th of August 2025 in Umuahia.

Otumala also said the technical meeting involving all officials of teams and contingents will be held on August 7th while matches will commence the next day.

She also advised the participating teams to commence registration immediately as all registrations would end on the day of the technical meeting

Otumala said: “The Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) is pleased to inform you that the 2025 National Division One Handball league will take place from 7th – 18th August, 2025, in Umuahia, Abia State.

“All participating teams should note that documentary registration of players shall be completed on or before 31st July, 2025 and all Definitive registration must be submitted to the HFN at least before or during Technical Meeting on 7th August, 2025”

The National Division One League is the second tier league in the stable of the Handball Federation of Nigeria which involves teams who are aiming to get promoted into the Ardova Handball Premier League.

Four teams; two teams each in the men and women categories, will get promoted into the top tier handball premier league.

COAS Shooters and Soof Omo Ogiefo are the defending champions of the National Division One League and are presently doing well in the Ardova Handball Premier League.

Meanwhile, Safety Shooters and Safety Babes of Abuja topped the table in the first phase of the 2025 Ardova Handball Premier League.

Safety Shooters cemented their top spot in the men’s standings with a convincing 26–20 (16–07) victory over Niger United on the final day, finishing with 28 points from 10 matches while also winning nine and losing only once.

Their campaign was backed by a league-high 322 goals scored and a staggering +91 goal difference, edging COAS Shooters, who also amassed 28 points to first place based on superior goal difference.

In the women’s category, defending champions Safety Babes proved untouchable throughout the seven-match phase, winning all their games to top the log with 21 points. Their impressive run included 242 goals scored and just 173 conceded, resulting in a +69 goal difference as they aimed to win an unprecedented quintuple ( five-peat) of titles.

Rima Queens solidified their second-place finish with a thrilling 34–31 (15–18) comeback victory over Soof Omo Ogiefo. They ended Phase 1 with 22 points — one behind Safety Babes — with six wins and one draw.

Plateau Peacocks came third with 15 points, while Imo Grasshoppers and Soof Omo Ogiefo followed in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Rivers Queens (6th), Defender Babes (7th), and Ekiti Queens (8th), who failed to win a single game, completed the women’s standings.

With Phase 1 concluded, attention now shifts to the decisive second phase of the Ardova Handball Premier League, where the champions will be crowned, and the battle for survival will take centre stage.

HFN Unveils Plans For 2025 National Division One League is first published on The Whistler Newspaper