The Handball event at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, came to a thrilling close on Thursday with Abia and Niger States crowned champions in the female and male categories respectively.
In the female final, Abia stunned hosts Delta with a narrow 12–11 victory after holding a four-goal lead at halftime (9–5). The tense encounter kept the packed arena on edge, but Abia held their nerves to secure the gold medal and etch their names in the competition’s history.
The male final was equally dramatic as Niger State proved superior to Delta in a high-paced match. Niger claimed the title with a 26–23 win, after taking a slim 9–8 lead at halftime. The result handed Niger a well-deserved gold while Delta, despite their spirited fight, settled for silver in both categories.
Earlier in the day, the third-place matches produced exciting contests. Ondo State defeated Lagos 17–7 in the female category, dominating from start to finish after going into the break with a 7–4 advantage. In the male category, Adamawa edged Lagos 22–19, overturning a halftime deficit of 10–11 to clinch the bronze medal.
