Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win ‘Star War’; back in the race for continental ticket
Remo Stars of Ikenne beat Lobi Stars of Makurdi in a battle of stars to get back into reckoning for a continental ticket from the Nigerian elite league, the Nigerian Professional Football League.
Profiting from the slip by Enugu Rangers who played goalless with run-away leaders, Rivers United on Saturday, Remo Stars fired full cylinder to beat Lobi Stars 3-1 at the home ground in Ikenne.
In so doing, they moved from the fifth position to overtake the powerhouses and oriental duo of Enugu Rangers and Enyimba as the latter slumped 2-1 to bottom-placed MFM.
Remo Stars began their ascendancy to the third position of the log when Alimi Sikiru put the sky-blue side ahead of Lobi Stars after 19 minutes.
But Lobi Stars fought back to even the scores in the 60th minute through Francis Odinaka. But four minutes later, Remo Stars who did not lift off their legs on the revving pedal shot ahead again through Ojo Tolulope.
Samuel Anakwe put the scores beyond doubt when he made it 3-1 in the 77th minute.
In other match day 34 fixtures, Kwara United beat Sunshine Stars 1-0; Plateau United played 1-1 with Gombe United while the local derby of Dakkada and Akwa United ended 3-1 in favour of the former.
Wikki Tourists needed a last minute penalty kick to salvage a point from their home encounter with Shooting Stars who had shot ahead in the 53rd minute through Olufemi Adesina.
Abia United compounded the woes of Kano Pillars by inflicting a 3-2 defeat on the former league champions.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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