Former Nigerian sprinter and broadcaster, Hameed Adio has thrown his weight behind his home team, Kwara United to excel in this Thursday’s encounter away to Remo Stars in Ikenne.

Adio, who captained Nigeria at the Moscow ’80 Olympic Games was also a former commissioner for Sports in Kwara State and an unrepentant backer of his home team.

His comment on the Remo Stars – Kwara United duel:

“Hmm when in the first week of this month, yours truly posted on several platforms nationwide, the conquest of both Enyimba and El Kanemi Warriors by Kwara United all within a week, I remember my good friend and colleague, Kunle Solaja of Sports Village Square, one of Africa’s finest Sports journalists while sending a warning to my handle said and I quote “Wait until you face the undisputed leaders, REMO STARS OF AFRICA” (emphasis his).

“Now, after waiting this long, today is the D-Day for Kwara United to prove their mettle in an away encounter on the lush green turf of the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne,  a place they are no strangers to having participated in the pre-season Value Jets tournament which took place there.

“Agreed, Remo Stars apart from home advantage, parade some of the finest players in the nation’s domestic league but I hasten to say that the new-found confidence, composure, resilience, character and fighting spirit of Kwara United will provide the much-needed tonic the ‘Afonja Warriors’ need to give the homers a bloody nose in today’s match which will be played under floodlights a phenomenon our dear United players are equally used to since the kick-off is slated for 5,30 pm.

“Go all the way boys and secure that victory on the road to further improve your position on the league table and also allow me to tell my good friend Kunle that at last ‘we did it our way.’ UP KWARA UNITED!”

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All the teams chasing front runners, Remo Stars, all stumbled on Wednesday evening as the Nigeria Professional League enters 25 in projected 28 match days.

It means Remo Stars will still retain their top position on Thursday night irrespective of their match-day 25 duel with visiting Kwara United.

Second-placed Shooting Stars failed in a bid to drastically narrow the gap separating the legacy outfits as they only managed to force a 2-2 draw in their home game with Lobi Stars.

Enugu Rangers, who were initially in the third position, tumbled down the ladder to the sixth position after a 1-0 loss to Abia Warriors.

In the aftermath, Abia Warriors, with 39 points, climbed to the fourth position. Rivers United, though back in the third position, could have had a quantum leap had they not dropped points in their duel with Akwa United.

They had shot into the lead in the 9th minute of their away match with Akwa United when Paschal Onunza found the net. But in the 57th minute, Akwa United battling against relegation levelled up through Mare Abson.

Results

• Abia Warriors 1-0 Enugu Rangers
• Shooting Stars 2-2 Lobi Stars
• Akwa United 1-1 Rivers United
• Ikorodu City 2-1 Plateau United
• Sunshine Stars 1-1 Kano Pillars
• Niger Tornadoes 2-1 Heartland
• Bayelsa United 2-2 Nasarawa United
• El Kanemi 0-0 Bendel Insurance

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KUNLE SOLAJA.

With 26 days to a destiny-shaping match between Rwanda and Nigeria, the latest partners of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Carloha Nigeria have pledged to drive the Super Eagles to victories.

Super Eagles are lying deep below the summit of Group C of the World Cup qualifying series and are due to face table-toppers, Rwanda in a ‘must-win’ match on Monday 17 March.

Carloha, who are the exclusive dealer and franchise holders of Cherry vehicles in Nigeria signed a strategic partnership deal with the NFF.

The deal is worth N500 million with a renewable tenure of a year.

The firm pledged to support the development of football in Nigeria as the brand Cherry becomes the official automobile partner of the national teams.

The official signing ceremony at the corporate headquarters of the company on Wednesday was attended by Shehu Dikko, chairman of the National Sports Commission as well as the chieftains of the NFF led by Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

Managing Director of Carloha, Sola Adigun expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating that the partnership aims to have a long-lasting impact on football growth by providing essential support to grassroots and professional football initiatives.

“We believe in investing in the future of sports development in Nigeria, especially supporting the national teams.

“This partnership is a step towards strengthening football in Nigeria by ensuring that players and teams receive the necessary support to excel.”

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