Opeifa Cup: Aje Comprehensive High School Wins Lagos Handball Tourney

Defending champions, Aje Comprehensive High School, emerged as champions of the Lagos State Secondary Schools Handball Competition tagged “Opeifa Cup 2025” held at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos.

The week-long championship aimed to promote the development of handball through the school system, identification of talents, and providing an enabling environment for students across the six educational districts to showcase their prowess in the sport.

Aje Comprehensive High School with their flawless skills and attacking flair stunned Whitesand Senior College 16-9 to cart home the coveted trophy as the winners of the state schools handball championship in the senior boys category.

In the senior girls category, it was United Christian Senior School that laugh last following a 1-0 win via penalty shoot-out over Jagunmolu Senior girls after a 2-2 stalemate at the regulation time.

Meanwhile, Aje Comprehensive High School defeated Whitesand Junior School 8-3 to win the title in the junior category, while Herbert Macaulay edged Igbobi Junior School 7-6 to crown champions in the junior girls category.

Speaking during the medals presentation ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Railway Corporation, Honourable Kayode Opeifa highlighted that the vision of the championship is to catch them young, produce young talents and make them available to represent the state and eventually represent the country.

Honourable Opeifa, a member of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, emphasized that they are looking up to the youngsters not only to be successful in sports but to be successful in all their endeavours and ensure that Lagos continues to excel at all national and world championships.

On her part, former Chairperson, Lagos State Handball Association, Adeola Opeifa, noted that the only way to make sport great in Nigeria is to take it to the grassroots level through the school system.

“Discovered talents from this championship will also form part of the handball team that will represent the state at the national under 15 Youth Games. Through our dedicated efforts we will continue to give them the platform to excel,” She noted.

Opeifa added that players discovered from the noble initiative are plying their trade outside the country, saying the newly identified players will continue to be nurture through properly organized and structured programmes.

Adeyemo Ibrahim, Captain of Aje Comprehensive Senior School was elated for winning the coveted trophy for his school for a record of second time, adding that with the support of his teammates and coaches they were able to write the name of their school in the history of Opeifa Cup.

“By His grace, l wants to move to the national team level to continue my career as handball player.”

Ibrahim said his next move is to be at the national youth level, dreaming to play handball at the national level and represent Nigeria in future.

Outstanding players in different categories were awarded with prizes.