Delta, Abia, Niger set up title showdowns in NYG handball final

Host state Delta, Abia, and Niger booked their spots in the finals of the handball event on Wednesday at the ongoing National Youth Games in Asaba, following thrilling semi-final encounters on Day 5 of the competition.

In the female category, Delta kept their home crowd on edge before edging past Ondo in a nail-biting contest that ended 12–11. Despite trailing 4–6 at halftime, they rallied back strongly in the second half to claim a dramatic win and seal a place in the gold medal match.

Abia, on the other hand, showed no mercy in their semifinal tie, cruising past Lagos with a commanding 24–12 victory. They were already in control by halftime with a 13–5 lead and never looked back, setting up a mouthwatering final clash against hosts Delta.

The male semifinals also delivered excitement, with Delta again in the spotlight. Backed by their fans, the Delta boys saw off Lagos 24–19 in a closely fought game, leading 9–7 at halftime before widening the gap in the second period to secure the win.

In the other semifinal, Niger displayed power and precision as they overpowered Adamawa 30–20. With a comfortable 15–9 lead at halftime, the Niger boys maintained their dominance to confirm a final showdown with hosts Delta.