The handball competition at the ongoing National Sports Festival, Gateway Games 2024, entered its second day on Tuesday with exciting matches and standout performances at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta.

In the women’s category, host state Ogun thrilled their supporters with a dominant 32–20 victory over Kogi. Ogun led 16–11 at halftime and maintained control throughout the second half with accurate passing, solid defense, and effective finishing.

Edo State also recorded an emphatic win in the female category, overpowering Kano by 33–15. Edo took a 15–08 lead into the break and never looked back, showcasing superior teamwork and quick transitions to secure all two points.

In the men’s competition, Team FCT Abuja defeated Kano 29–20. The FCT team surged ahead with a 15–07 halftime lead and continued to press their advantage to finish with a comfortable margin.

One of the most dramatic games of the day came in the men’s fixture between Adamawa and Enugu. Enugu held a narrow 16–15 lead at halftime, but Adamawa fought back strongly and edged the game 32–31 in the dying moments, taking full advantage of key turnovers.

In the final men’s match of the day, Sokoto outclassed Osun with a 26–18 win. Sokoto established a commanding 14–06 halftime lead and managed the rest of the game efficiently to secure the victory.

Meanwhile, the organizers have announced changes to the fixtures for Day 4, Thursday, 22nd May 2025. This follows a fire outbreak involving a diesel truck that caused panic and disrupted matches scheduled for Day 2.

According to the updated schedule, five matches will be played on Thursday, 22nd May 2025:

Oyo will play against Imo at 9:00 am in the female category.

Ogun will face Delta at 10:30 am in the male category.

Adamawa will take on Edo at 12:00 pm in the male category.

Lagos will play against Osun at 1:30 pm in the male category.

Niger will face FCT at 3:00 pm in the male category.

Organizers have urged all teams and officials to ensure strict compliance with the revised schedule to maintain the smooth running of the Festival.