The group stage of the handball event at the ongoing Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) 2025, hosted by the University of Jos (UNIJOS), has concluded after three action-packed days that kept fans at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos, on the edge of their seats.
With the quarterfinals set to kick off tomorrow, both the men’s and women’s categories delivered an impressive blend of skill, resilience, and teamwork — hallmarks of university sportsmanship at its finest.
Matchday One Highlights
The tournament opened with intense encounters and narrow margins.
In the female division, Bayero University Kano (BUK) and UNIJOS battled to a 6–6 draw, while Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi (JOSTUM) edged University of Benin (UNIBEN) 13–12 in a nail-biter.
The men’s games were equally electrifying — Lagos State University (LASU) defeated FUTMinna 18–16, and the hosts, UNIJOS, thrilled the crowd with a 19–18 win over JOSTUM. BOUETSI cruised past UNILAG 22–7, Taraba State University (TSU) beat BUK 3–1, and Ekiti State University (EKSU) overcame UNIMAID 24–17.
Matchday Two Drama
Day two brought tighter contests as teams fought to solidify their knockout spots.
BUK’s women clinched a hard-earned 5–4 win over Adamawa State University (ADSU), while UNIJOS bounced back strongly with a commanding 17–8 win against UNIMAID. UNIBEN revived their campaign with an 11–2 rout of UNIUYO.
On the men’s side, BUK extended their winning run by defeating FUTMinna 15–11. JOSTUM dominated EKSU 24–11, and TSU edged Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) 13–12 in a fiercely contested duel.
Matchday Three: The Decider
The final group matches produced definitive results as the quarterfinal lineup took shape.
In the women’s games, BOUETSI asserted dominance with a commanding 20–7 victory over UNIBEN, while UNIJOS narrowly overcame ADSU 5–3. JOSTUM sealed their qualification with a 10–7 win over UNIUYO.
Among the men, EKSU stunned UNIJOS 16–14, UNIMAID edged JOSTUM 15–14, and UDUS finished strong with a 23–18 victory over FUTMinna.
Looking Ahead
Across the three days, the competition embodied the true spirit of NUGA — passion, sportsmanship, and excellence. While UNIJOS showcased remarkable grit as hosts, JOSTUM and BUK impressed with consistency. In the women’s category, BOUETSI’s 20–7 demolition of UNIBEN stood out as the most dominant performance of the group stage.
As the quarterfinals begin tomorrow, fans anticipate even fiercer clashes as universities battle for semifinal spots and the coveted gold medal.
