Nigerian Football
Shooting Stars narrow gap at the top as Remo Stars lose to Nasarawa
The 10-point gap established by Remo Stars at the top of the Nigeria Premier Professional League has been narrowed to nine following Remo Stars’ lone goal loss to Nasarawa and Shooting Stars’ 1-1 draw with Enyimba in Aba.
Anas Yusuf’s 25th-minute goal was all Nasarawa United needed to peck the advancement of the league leaders. But it still left Nasarawa in the murky waters of relegation.
For Shooting Stars in what was to be an early kick-off at 3 pm but suffered a little delay owing to rainfall, the Ibadan team did not mince words about their intentions.
They went into the attack right from kick-off and could have been two goals up before the half-hour mark.
They opened the game with a ferocious attack and scored in just after 15 minutes when Sodiq Ibrahim in a breakaway move found the net.
Minutes later, he was close to doubling the lead, but his effort went slightly off target.
Enyimba restored parity through Ekene Awazie in the 42nd minute.
In Ilorin, Kwara United fritter away many scoring chances especially in the first half, forced to a goalless draw by visiting Abia Warriors in Ilorin.
In Enugu, Enugu Rangers compounded the woes of Sunshine Stars, inflicting a 3-0 defeat that has taken the Ondo State’s goal deficit to two digits.
They remain in the league’s backwaters.
Heartland played a goalless draw with El Kanemi Warriors while Lobi Stars were crushed 2-0 at home by Niger Tornadoes.
The Results:
- Nasarawa United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Enugu Rangers 3-0 Sunshine Stars
- Kwara United 0-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland 0-0 El Kanemi
- Lobi Stars 0-2 Niger Tornadoes
- Enyimba 1-1 Shooting Stars
- Kano Pillars v Akwa United
Thursday
- Bendel Insurance v Ikorodu City
- Rivers United v Katsina United
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The Flying Eagles were emphatic 2-0 winners over hosts Young Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the first of two international friendly matches at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in the heart of the Ivorian capital on Thursday.
Captain Daniel Bameyi made good from the spot three minutes after the hour mark, converting from six yards after an infringement on darting forward Divine Oliseh.
The seven-time African champions dominated from kick-off and the hosts were fortunate to go into recess still on level terms with their visitors.
However, the Flying Eagles, two-time FIFA World Cup silver medallists, were determined to put some gloss on the scoreline and Oliseh did just that with 10 minutes left.
Both teams will square up to each other again at the same venue on Friday, as they test strength ahead of this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place 26th April – 18th May.
Tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire have been drawn in group A of the biennial championship, alongside DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and the second flag-bearers of central Africa, while the Flying Eagles will battle it out with Egypt, South Africa and Morocco in a potentially flammable group B.
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Following the decision of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to withdraw the provisional approval for the Bako Konragora Stadium, home ground Niger Tornadoes, the club has elected to adopt the Lafia Township Stadium for the rest of the season.
The NPFL had also ruled that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, earlier adopted by Tornadoes is not fit to host league matches.
The decision of the NPFL was conveyed in a letter dated February 19, 2025, in which the league body cited the requirements of club licensing infrastructure criteria.
Tornadoes in their response on February 23, 2025, acknowledged the unsatisfactory conditions of the two stadiums and nominated the stadium in Nasarawa State.
“I would like to inform you that we have selected Lafia Township Stadium in
Lafia, Nasarawa State, is our designated home ground. This stadium is among those approved by the NPFL Board for hosting our home matches”, wrote Jibrin Haruna, the Secretary of the club.
He added that the club would work to mitigate the conditions of the Minna stadium to enable them to return to their home fans.
“The Niger State Government has commenced maintenance work through a reputable company to ensure that within two weeks the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium, Minna meets all the criteria necessary for hosting NPFL matches”, Jibrin stated.
In his reaction, Gbenga Elegbeleye noted that the NPFL will continue to monitor all grounds to ensure that those whose conditions fall short of requirements are delisted from approved grounds.
“We have a monitoring mechanism to check that clubs conform to our rules especially as it relates to television-friendly grounds”, stated Elegbeleye.
Lobi Stars is another club that was axed from their home ground for failure to meet the club licensing infrastructure criteria.
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Remo Stars, holding tenaciously to their iron grip on the Nigeria Premier League top position are set to achieve their fifth ‘double’ of the season by achieving yet another home and away win.
They have already garnered 14 points on the road, this season. This is the highest by any of the 20 clubs in the elite division.
They are already in Lafia where they hope to beat their hosts, Nasarawa United. If they do, it will be the fifth time this season they will be winning home and away against teams in the season.
This may be a record-setting feat in the 35-year history of the Nigerian professional league. Last October, Remo Stars won 3-0 in Ikenne.
Another win this Wednesday afternoon will extend their lead if rivals, Shooting Stars, Rivers United and Abia Warriors drop points in their respective fixtures.
Shooting Stars face a herculean task away to Enyimba, easily Nigeria’s most successful club.
A win for Shooting Stars will pave the way for their return to a continental championship for the first time in 26 years.
Rivers United, another title contestant are at home to Katsina United. A win will aid their flow to the NPFL title.
The Fixtures:
- Nasarawa United v Remo Stars
- Enugu Rangers v Sunshine Stars
- Kwara United v Abia Warriors
- Heartland v El Kanemi
- Lobi Stars v Niger Tornadoes
- Enyimba v Shooting Stars
- Kano Pillars v Akwa United
Thursday
- Bendel Insurance v Ikorodu City
- Rivers United v Katsina United
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