Niger United of Minna pulled off one of the standout results of the Ardova Premier Handball League second phase in Lagos on Sunday, edging high-flying COAS Shooters 32–31 in a fiercely contested encounter.

COAS Shooters, who entered the match sitting second on the log, found themselves stunned early as they trailed 16–22 at halftime. The game quickly became a tactical duel between United’s coach Adebayo Yekini and COAS Shooters’ Emeka Nnamani, with both sides battling for control.

Despite a spirited second-half surge from the military team, Niger United held their ground and kept their composure in the closing stages to secure a narrow but vital victory.

The loss dents the ambitions of COAS Shooters, who had been pushing to overtake Safety Shooters at the top of the table.

Safety Shooters, however, extended their dominance with a commanding 47–21 victory over Benue Buffaloes, outclassing their opponents at both ends of the court with free-flowing scoring and disciplined defending.

There were no surprises in the clash between Lagos Seasiders and Rima Strikers, as Rima powered to a 36–26 win after establishing a 20–15 halftime lead.

Meanwhile, defending champions Tojemarine Academy continued their slump, falling 25–19 to De-Defenders in what has become a worrying run of poor results for the Lagos side.