By George Akpayen
Remo Stars showed why they are in the race for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title when they fought their way back from two goals down to defeat Abia Warriors at their Remo Stars Stadium ground in Ikenne on Wednesday.
The Sky Blue Stars were always favourites to win the contest considering their impressive run this season which has seen them start this year top of the standings.
However, things did not go according to plan for Daniel Ogunmodede’s men when Abia Warriors raced into a two-goal lead before the half-hour mark. Two quick goals from Ayodele Ezekiel and Antoine Ijoma on 25 and 27 minutes respectively meant they were staring at a first home defeat since a 3-1 loss to Kano Pillars in May 2022.
In the final eight minutes of the first half, Remo Stars wiped out their opponents’ two-goal lead. First, Olamilekan Adedayo curled home from Malik Jabbar’s pass on 38 minutes before Jabbar turned goalscorer on the stroke of halftime to level the score at 2-2, setting up an interesting second 45 minutes.
Remo Stars turned things around eight minutes into the restart when Franck Mawuena directed Tochukwu Michael’s cross past Warriors goalkeeper Sharp Uzoigwe to take a 3-2 lead, which they held onto till full-time.
Ogunmodede’s men now hold a six-point lead over Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) who move into second place with 36 points.
A goal in each from Tijani Kabir and Sadiq Ibrahim helped 3SC to a 2-0 win over bottom-placed Nasarawa United at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan. Shooting Stars keep second place until the outcome of Thursday’s matchup between Rivers United and Bendel Insurance.
New boys Ikorodu City and Bayelsa United recorded big wins over Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars respectively.
Ikorodu City despite coming up against an experienced Kano Pillars side that had Ahmed Musa, Rabiu Ali and Shehu Abdullahi in their side, the Lagos club simply overcame their opponents 4-1. Shola Adelani continued his brilliant run of form by opening the scoring on three minutes – his third goal in his last three appearances.
City left-back Harrison Austin Uzondu doubled the lead on 20 minutes before Abba Adam scored eight minutes to halftime to give Kano Pillars what looked like a lifeline going into the second half. Nurudeen Aweroro’s men continued from where they stopped in the first half as Rabiu Ali turned in Uzondu’s cross for an own goal on 54 minutes and substitute Ayomide Cole fired home on 74 minutes to put the game to bed for the new boys.
Bayelsa United put on a show at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa by hitting Sunshine Stars for four. Ifeanyi Ogba scored twice (15’, 68’) while Auwal Sadiq and Ofem Eyong got among the goals in the 51st and 90th minute respectively. Waheed Adebayo’s 37th-minute goal for Sunshine Stars did look like we had a contest on our hands in the first half before the Owena Whales were blown apart in a second half blitz.
NPFL champions Rangers International were involved in one of the two early kickoffs of the day in the Northeast town of Maiduguri against El-Kanemi Warriors. Nasiru Salihu’s double inspired El-Kanemi to a 2-1 win with Saviour Isaac’s goal in the 63rd minute sandwiched in between Salihu’s strikes.
Former champions Akwa United continued their poor run of form. The Promise Keepers could only battle back to earn a point against Lobi Stars at their Nest of Champions ground in Uyo through a 73rd-minute goal from Friday Apollos after Onyekachi Okafor had given the away side the lead in the first half.
Akwa United have now taken just a point in back-to-back home matches which leaves them second from bottom.
The NPFL continues on Thursday with four matches in Aba, Katsina, Minna and Port Harcourt.
MATCHDAY 21
Wednesday, January 29, 2024
Bayelsa United 4-1 Sunshine Stars
(Ifeanyi Ogba 15’, 68’, Auwal Sadiq 51’, Ofem Eyong 90+’ – Waheed Adebayo 37’)
El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 Rangers
(Nasiru Salihu 18’, 74’ – Saviour Isaac 63’)
Remo Stars 3-2 Abia Warriors
(Olamilekan Adedayo 38’, Malik Jabbar 45’, Franck Mawuena 53’ – Ayodele Ezekiel 25’, Antoine Ijoma 27’)
Ikorodu City 4-1 Kano Pillars
(Shola Adelani 3’, Harrison Austin 20’, Rabiu Ali 54’ (OG), Ayomide Cole 74’ – Abba Adam 37’)
Akwa United 1-1 Lobi Stars
(Friday Apollos 73’ – Onyekachi Okafor 28’)
3SC 2-0 Nasarawa United
(Tijani Kabir 15’, Sadiq Ibrahim 83’)
Thursday, January 30, 2024
Enyimba v Heartland (3pm, StarTimes & Propel Sports)
Katsina United v Plateau United (4pm, Propel Sports)
Niger Tornadoes v Kwara United (4pm)
Rivers United v Bendel Insurance (4pm)