Nigerian Football
Star War at Onikan as Seyi Akinwunmi marks 60th birthday
The hitherto serene waterfront Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan will figuratively gets agog as fairy tale team of the last NPFL Season, Remo Stars of Ikenne take on one of Nigeria’s legacy football clubs, the Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
The two ‘Stars’ teams go head-oncolissio in honour of the immediate past senior vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi who is celebrating his 60th birthday.
For both Remo Stars and Shooting Stars, the Mobolaji Johnson Arena evokes fine memories. It was at the stadium that Remo Stars began their adventures into what turned out to be their best season ever, finishing third on the log of the Nigeria Professional Football League.
They began the season with a 3-0 away win against Lagos MFM at the Onikan stadium. They are back at the arena to face their regional rivals, Shooting Stars who on the same turf recently got their highest ever cash prize in an invitational four- legacy clubs tournament.
Their cash prize of N100 million easily stand out as the biggest ever, Ahead of their clash atpm this Friday, Seyi Akinwunmi, an apostle of youth development, has his birthday celebration kicking off at 10am with “let the children play” programme.
According to him, the young children alone will play football among themselves including small sided games and have breakfast.
Later, at 2.30pm -the ladies take to the pitch to be followed ar 3.00 pm by Under 15 boys match.
After the star match of the day featuring clubs with the nomenclature ‘Stars’, scholarship awards will be announced to some youths.
The Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Mini-Tournament (SACMT) is an annual football event that brings people together in a convivial atmosphere to enjoy the round leather game whilst raising funds for the education and care of indigent children in the society.
In the past, the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation (SACF) has over the past eight years enabled over 40 children (aged 12-15 years) to remain in school by supporting their education and related needs, while also through their local FA’s highlight and nurture their football skills.
The foundation supported the education of more than 200 indigent but intelligent children in collaboration with Courage Education Foundation (CEF) which was also conceived and co-founded by Seyi Akinwunmi over 17 years ago.
Nigerian Football
Like what happened to Stores earlier, another Lagos club thrown out of the Nigerian League
Another Lagos club, 1472 FC, has been thrown out of Nigeria’s second-tier league, the Nigeria National League, for failure to honour three matches in the current season.
Crowd-pulling Stationery Stores suffered a similar fate 32 years ago when they were expelled from the Nigeria Professional League.
In a press release on Tuesday, the NFF announced that 1472 FC did not honour three matches during the current season.
The matches were against Abia Comets (Match 9), Dakkada FC (Match 53) and Ijele FC (Match 74).
The NNL relied on the league’s Article 14.11 to expel the club.
In the letter signed by the NNL’s Chief Operating Officer, Danlami Alanana, 1472 FC are also fined the sum of N5 million, with the consequence that the results of all their played matches have been nullified, and those yet to be played are cancelled.
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Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has extolled the commitment and determination of Remo Stars Foot ball Club on its victory over Niger Tornadoes, describing it as unprecedented feat in the annals of Ogun State.
It would be recalled that the local football team won the first-ever Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title with a 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, April 27.
In so doing, they become the first team in the state to win the Nigerian elite division league since the state was created on 3 February 1976.
Before the current feat, no team from the state had won the national league. The famous Abiola Babes, the rave of the 1980s, won the Challenge Cup in 1985 and 1987.
Governor Abiodun, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, said the team has sustained the inherent first capacity Ogun State is known for, adding that their resilience and perseverance have paid off.
Governor Abiodun added that Remo Stars has consistently pushed for the best with enviable patriotic tendencies since its formation.
He said the level of the team’s dexterity and capacity earned it the 2024-2025 Nigerian Premier Football League title as well as it’s promotion to the elite league four years ago.
The Governor, therefore, implored other local clubs in Nigeria to emulate the degree of resilience and doggedness the team displayed to help in promoting Nigeria’s local league to enviable heights.
“It is my utmost delight that the age-long perseverance and consistency of the Remo Stars Football team have eventually paid off at the national level and to the admiration of every Nigerian, including our amiable President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“As the first privately-owned NPFL champions since 1996, which ceremoniously secured a place in the CAF Champions League, we commend the undiluted and unwavering determination of the players, the coaching formation, and the entire management.
“This is indeed a clear reflection of the profound trait of Ogun State as the first in all areas of success and our all-inclusive policy of transformation as enshrined in our ISEYA mantra,” the statement read.
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The historic feat of Remo Stars, who won their maiden Nigerian Premier League title on the birthday occasion of the club owner, has attracted the attention of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement posted on the State House X handle and signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Tinubu congratulated Remo Stars Football Club.
He remarked that winning the 2024-2025 Nigerian Premier Football League title is a milestone achievement that spotlights Ikenne and Ogun State.
President Tinubu describes the historic victory, four years after the team’s promotion to the elite league, as a testament to the hard work, discipline, and unyielding spirit of the players, the coaching crew and the management.
He admires the team’s resilience and perseverance, noting their courage in pursuing success despite three previous near misses in the race for the league title.
He hopes their example will inspire other Nigerian clubs to pursue their dreams continuously with tenacity and optimism.
He also commends the vision and commitment of the club’s owner and chairman, Kunle Soname.
His investment in grassroots football—exemplified by the construction of the state-of-the-art stadium in Ikenne—has provided a vital foundation for the growth of sports in Nigeria.
As Nigeria’s champions, Remo Stars have become Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League. President Tinubu urges the team to deploy the same undaunted spirit and focus to win continental honours.
He calls on football fans across Nigeria to rally behind the team as they carry the nation’s hopes onto the African stage.
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