The stage is set for another star clash with the derby duel of Sunshine Stars and Remo Stars. For the latter, it is both an away and yet a home game.

The match holds at the Remo Stars Stadium where the intending run-away league leaders have not dropped any point this season since their goalless draw with Rivers United.

Sunshine Stars are currently without a home ground having been playing their home games in Ijebu-Ode before their recent relocation to Ikenne.

For Remo Stars, they have a lot at stake.

The primary one is to break loose at the top of the league table and extend the gap with their nearest challengers.  

A win will earn them perfect scores of five victories in a row, a record they will share with their next-door neighbours and rivals, Shooting Stars.  

It could be obvious that Remo Stars will be going for attacking football with the latest addition to their armoury, Samson Olasupo who joins from Radnicki Sr. Mitrovica in Serbia.

Ahead of other match day 22 games, Remo Stars could extend their lead by obtaining 45 points setting nearly a 10-point gap with their nearest challengers, Shooting Stars.

But it may not be that easy for Remo Stars as stiff opposition is expected from Sunshine Stars who are within a shouting distance from relegation waters.

A drop of points could compound their woes. The match kick-off at 5.30 pm and will be played mostly under floodlights.

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Remo Stars have been given a helping hand as other league contenders, Enyimba and Rivers United dropped points in their respective matches on Thursday.

Both teams battled for score draws at home leaving the Ikenne side with a massive seven-point gap at the summit.

The results mean that Remo Stars stay atop comfortably with 42 points followed by Shooting Stars of Ibadan with 36 points but with a game in hand while Rivers United followed at 35 points.

In Aba, former champions, Enyimba had to come from behind to get a 1-1 scoreline against Emmanuel Amuneke tutored by Heartland FC.

Heartland which started the league badly have peaked and moving steadily up the ladder.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers United failed to win their third consecutive match after a 2-2 draw against Bendel Insurance of Benin.

The visitors were in front in the 6^th minute with a close-range shot from Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi but John Ubong Friday put a smile on the faces of the home fans with the equaliser in the 35^th minute of the half.

On resumption, Uche Collins puts the Insurance side in front again but Handsome Surveyor even the score line again two minutes later.

In Katsina, the home side, Katsina United defeated Plateau United 2-1. With the match looking like another draw, the home side won via a penalty kick in the added time for the win.

While in Minna, Niger Tornadoes defeated Kwara United 2-1. Ifeanyi Okechukwu put the home side in the lead in the first minute and the game dragged till the end when Abdulrasheed doubled the lead in the 86^th minute before Junior Aimufua scored a consolatory goal in the 90^th minute.

RESULTS

• Rivers Utd 2-2 Bendel Insurance
• Enyimba 1-1 Heartland
• Katsina Utd 2-1 Plateau Utd
• Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Kwara Utd

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Remo Stars’ quest to consolidate their leadership in the Nigeria Premier League took an awkward turn as they suddenly conceded two goals within three minutes of their home match with Abia Warriors.

But they fought back gamely, just as they did in the penultimate match with Akwa United, coming from behind to snatch a 3-2 victory.

Just as the game opened into a dingdong affair, Abia United found themselves in front from a 25th-minute corner kick which Ezekiel Ayodele nodded home.

The shock was hardly over before Ijeoma Desouza doubled the lead almost on the next counterattack by the Warriors.

They almost got a third goal but for the timely clearance by Remo Stars’ captain, Nduka Junior.  

However, respite came the way of Remo Stars in the 38^th minute when Olamilekan Adedayo scored from outside, he area to peg the scoreline before Jabbar Malik who came off the bench scored the equaliser from a rebound to leave the scoreline at 2-2.

On resumption, Tochukwu Micheal nods in the winner in the 53^rd minute. The team now lead the table with 42 points and a superior goal difference of 13.

In Lagos, Ikorodu City made a mess of visiting Kano Pillars with a 4-1 win. It was Shola Adelani who opened the score in the3rd minute and that was his third consecutive goal in the two matches.

Austin Uzondu doubled the lead in the 20^th minute but Pillars pegged the score with a goal in the 37^th minute by Abba Adam veteran defender, Rabiu Ali scored an own goal off a corner kick in the 54^th minute and Ayomide Cole put the match beyond Pillars in the 73^rd minute.

In Maiduguri, defending champions, Enugu Rangers suffered another loss on the bounce after a 1-2 defeat from El Kanemi.

The home side opened the score in the 18^th minute through Salihu Nasiru but Isaac Saviours equalised for Rangers in the 63^rd minute but found themselves on the losing side when Nasiru scored the winner ten minutes later.

Bayelsa United won 4-1 against Sunshine Stars of Akure while Akwa United survived another home loss with a 1-1 draw with Lobi Stars.

RESULTS

• Remo Stars 3-2 Abia Warriors
• Shooting Stars 2-0 Nasarawa United
• Bayelsa 4-1 Sunshine Stars
• Akwa United 1-1 Lobi Stars
• El Kanemi 2-1 Enugu Rangers
• Ikorodu City 4-1 Kano Pillars

THURSDAY MATCHES

• Enyimba v Heartland
• Katsina United v Plateau United
• Niger Tornados v Kwara United
• Rivers United v Bendel Insurance
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