NPFL: Can Remo Stars Hold Off Enugu, Rivers To Win First-Ever League Title?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Remo Stars Going for Glory in 2024-25 NPFL
At the end of the 2023-24 NPFL season, many had conceded that Remo Stars were fated to be chokers - a side that is always on the verge of greatness, but unable to to make it to the top. The Sky Blue Stars ended as runners-up in back-to-back campaigns, finishing a point behind Enyimba in the 2022-23 season and five points adrift of Enugu Rangers last term, when they fluffed their lines in their penultimate match of the season.
However, 21 rounds into the 2024-25 campaign, the Ikenne-based outfit are proving their naysayers wrong, creating their own narrative, one that looks destined to be a showstopper. With the strategic leadership of their savvy head coach Daniel Ogunmodede, Remo Starts have solidified their spot at the top of the NPFL standings, eight points clear of Shootings Stars in second place and 10 points ahead of Nigerian powerhouse Rivers United.
The NPFL leaders have been in sensational form of late too, currently riding a five-match win streak - the longest active winning run in the Nigerian top flight - dating back to a 1-1 draw against Ikorodu City in mid-December. Their most recent victory came on February 1 when they earned a 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars, marking the fifth consecutive match in which they have found the back of the net on two or more occasions.
Ogunmodede’s side were also handed a piece of good luck, with CAF opting to postpone the African Nations Championship (CHAN) to August. Had they not done so, Ogunmodede, along with all of Nduka Junior, Kayode Bankole, Sodiq Ismail, and Jide Fatokun, would have had to leave the team this month, as they were selected to represent the Super Eagles B team at the continental competition hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Indeed, everything seems to be falling into place for the Sky Blue Stars, as they were afforded some breathing room at the top of the league standings last week when Shooting Stars dropped points away to Plateau United. Additionally, giants Rivers United have been stumbling of late, now winless in their last five league games, with the most recent ending in a 2-0 defeat to mid-table outfit Heartland.
Looking ahead, the Sky Blue Stars have a favourable match this weekend against 12th-placed Kano Pillars, which they will be expecting to win, while their biggest test in the foreseeable future will come on matchday 24 when they travel to face defending champs Enugu Rangers at the same time when Enyimba and Rivers will square off in Abia. If Remo Stars keep up their momentum, 2025 could mark a historic year for the Ikenne-based side, with their first league title serving as both a reward for their persistence and an inspiration for other NPFL clubs.
