Nigerian Football
How the NPFL League trophy was presented to Remo Stars
It was a momentous occasion for Remo Stars as they earned their first-ever national title on Sunday. It was the first time the club had won a national trophy. It was also the first time the Nigerian title was presented in a little town.
It is historical for Ikenne, which is fast becoming the epicentre of football activities in Nigeria.
Some of the national teams have found a haven in the town, and even the Super 6 league of the women’s league is currently being held in the little town.
The town hosted its first NPFL match on 26 December 2021 when Remo Stars beat Heartland 3-0. It followed up hosting a continental for the first time on 18 September 2022.
On July 17, 2022, Remo Stars earned their very first continental ticket when they beat Niger Tornadoes 3-0 in Ikenne.
Coincidentally, it was also a defeat of Niger Tornadoes this year that has earned the club its first league title and another shot at continental appearance.
The town played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s U17 ladies team picking a ticket for another World Cup appearance. The team’s home matches were played in Ikenne just at the town also hosted the CHAN Eagles training session ahead of eventual qualification for the continental appearance.
In receiving the NPFL trophy on Sunday, it was in the form of an exchange of baton. Abubakar Lawal, the Managing Director of GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, which fuelled the league, picked the trophy from the podium where it had been placed by former international, Samson Ozogula.
He passed it to the chairman of the NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who, in turn, handed it over to the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau.
With trophy going in ascending order, it was passed on to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission who handed it over to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The trophy was later presented by the governor to Nduka Junior, the captain of Remo Stars. Expectedly, the atmosphere became electrified with confetti flying over the podium and followed by fireworks, which lit the skies.
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In a classy manner, Remo Stars proved worthy champions as they beat visiting Ikorodu United 4-1 on the day they were crowned as Nigeria’s champions.
An anticipated lackadaisical approach to the game soon vanished as the Ikenne side fired full cylinders that ensured that their coronation day as Nigerian champions was not marred by either a defeat or a draw.
They came from behind to beat the visiting side 4-1. Coincidentally, the match also decided the third place of the league table as the loss by Ikorodu City ended their dream of grabbing a continental ticket by placing third on the log.
That position has now been grabbed by Abia Warriors who came from a goal down to beat Ek Kanemi 2-1 to obtain an unassailable 61 points by the remaining teams outside Remo Stars and Rivers United.
Coincidentally, both Ikorodu City and Abia Warriors jostling for the third position will meet on the final league day of the season in Lagos.
A win by Ikorodu City will leave the club a point behind that Abia Warriors. But Ikorodu City still have a window open as they can still obtain a slot in the CAF Confederation Cup via the President Federation Cup, which has entered the semi-final stage.
In Sunday’s match, Ikorodu City thought they had a dream start when Tosin Oyedokun fired them ahead in the 16th minute.
Had the scoreline remained like that, Ikorodu would have still had hopes if they could upstage Abia Warriors on the league’s final day.
But Remo Stars responded positively as they did against Abia Warriors on the same ground when they came from two goals down to snatch a win.
Sikiru Alimi smashed in the equaliser, and Shuaibu Ibrahim shot the Stars ahead in the 41st minute. In the second half, Remo Stars came out even more purposely. Babatunde Bello scored the third goal barely three minutes after the break, and Olamilekan Adedayo put the final nail in the coffin in the 68th minute.
The league champions now have 10 points clear of the current runners-up, Rivers United, who got a further setback as they lost 3-1 to Kwara United in Ilorin.
Abia Warriors, currently third on the log, can still get an upgrade into the CAF Champions League if they beat Ikorodu City on the final day and Rivers United lose to Nasarawa United or even draw on 25th May, the last Match Day.
Elsewhere, Nasarawa United continued their climb up the league standings after a 3-2 home win over Enyimba. They are now ninth on the log, thanks to NPFL leading scorer Anas Yusuf took his tally for the season to 18 after he scored one of the goals.
They are now safe from the relegation zone. Shooting Stars’ pitiable record in the second stanza of the league is unabated as they crashed 3-1 to Kano Pillars.
They were initial continental ticket contenders when the first half of the season ended last December.
Kano Pillars beat Shooting Stars 3-1 at home with Ahmed Musa grabbing a brace.
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A glorious season is nearing a closing moment as Remo Stars play their final home match of the 2024/25 NPFL season this Sunday, hosting third-place chasing Ikorodu City.
It is not just another match; it is one laced with actual and possible landmarks. Actual in the sense that irrespective of the result, Remo Stars will be crowned the kings of the Nigerian football league. A first for the club. A first by any single proprietor club since 1996.
A first for Ogun State, which has not produced any league-winning club since the creation of the state on February 3, 1976.
Abiola Babes did win laurel in the national cup, the then Challenge Cup, but not the National League or the successive NPFL.
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Nigerian Football
Remo Stars on history path as the first private club league to clinically emerge champions
Remo Stars will be the first one-man-owned club to win the NPFL title after an earlier feat by Udoji United. But there is a difference between Remo Stars’ exploits and those of Udoji United in 1996.
Remo Stars’ victory is untainted. They won even with three matches to spare. Their victory came directly from the green turf.
Not so for Udoji United, who became Nigeria’s champion, not on the pitch, but in the boardroom. The 1996 league, won by Udoji United, had a controversial end.
Clubs’ officials besieged the Nigeria Football Association secretariat with protests and appeals. On the field, Jasper United, after making a debut in the top division, could have been champions.
When the final whistle was blown in the boardroom, Udoji United upstaged city rivals, Jasper United, to win the league in the NFA boardroom.
Sharks FC, who initially placed second and could have featured in the Abiola CAF Cup competition, lost out despite spirited attempts to remain afloat. A decision of the disciplinary committee, however, changed the face of the table.
Udoji United, formerly in third position, protested that Concord FC, which held them to a goalless draw in the last league match, fielded two ineligible players.
The NFA committee ruled that the players – Churchill Ibari and Louis Ebani – were not properly transferred to Concord FC.
The decision gave Udoji three valuable points and goals that became the league championship clincher.
In anticipation of a possible award of the league to Udoji United, Sharks, who initially placed second, decided to appeal against the throwing out of their Week 7 protest in a match which the club lost 0-3 to Gombe United. Had the appeal sailed through, Sharks FC could have won the league with 61 points.
Thus, Remo Stars can lay claim to being the first single-owner club to win the league in decades.
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