The forthcoming Tojemarine Invitational Handball Championship has been described as an innovative and very promising platform that will improve competitive standards among teams engaged in the sport across West Africa.
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Sports247 reports that this declaration came from the competition’s director of media and publicity, Cosmos Chukwuemeka Akisi, while revealing the list of participating teams for the highly anticipated international club tournament.
Akisi disclosed in a press release that the competition, which is scheduled to take place in Lagos from July 16th to 25th, is organised by Tojemarine Sport Club and will be staged under the theme ‘Building Champions, Inspiring Communities.’
He added that the competition will feature 18 teams drawn from Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin, thereby underscoring the growing status of the competition as a very important emerging club handball tournament in West Africa.
The media director further revealed that 10 teams will compete in the men’s category, while eight will battle for honours in the women’s event during the ten-day championship, which will help West African clubs showcase their talents.
Leading the men’s field is host side, Tojemarine Handball Club, alongside four other Nigerian clubs – Rima Strikers of Sokoto, Delta Force of Asaba, Niger United of Minna and De-Defenders of Civil Defence Corps.
They will be joined by Energie, ASPAC and Adidja HC of Benin Republic, as well as Ghana Police Service and Health Life Global Handball Club from Ghana; while the women’s category will have four Nigerian clubs competing against others.
SOOF Handball Club, Seasider Babes of Lagos, Plateau Peacocks of Jos, and Rima Babes of Sokoto will represent Nigeria, while Benin Republic will be represented by Flowers and ASPAC, along with Ghana Police and Ghana Prisons Service.
Akisi stated at length, “The championship is an initiative of Tojemarine Sport Club, aimed at advancing handball development and creating opportunities for athletes to excel on both national and international stages.
“Organisers believe the competition will make a significant contribution to the development of handball by exposing players and coaches to high-level competition, while providing fans with an exciting spectacle of skill, athleticism, and sportsmanship, and strengthen sporting relationships across the region.
“It is designed to provide a platform, improve competitive standards. The inclusion of teams from Ghana and Benin Republic highlights its international outlook and reflects the increasing appeal of the championship beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“With preparations gathering momentum, handball stakeholders and enthusiasts across the region are already looking forward to what is expected to be one of the biggest club handball events on the West African sporting calendar in 2026.”
