Remo Stars returned to winning ways in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a hard-fought 1-0 win over champions Enyimba in Ikenne on Wednesday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Sky Blue Stars, who were soundly beaten in the South-West derby last Sunday, hosted the People’s Elephants in one of the biggest games of match day 25 of the 2023/24 NPFL season played in Ikenne. In the keenly contest affair, substitute Adams Olamilekan scored the game’s only goal to extend the home side’s unbeaten run against the Aba side to six games.
In Gombe, Shooting Stars secured their first win on the road, beating out-of-form Doma United 1-0 at the Pantami Stadium. Gideon Monday scored the game’s only goal as Shooting Stars extended their unbeaten run to five games. Similarly, Sunshine Stars defeated Katsina United 1-0 in Akure. Former Remo Stars forward Ibrahim Yusuf scored the game’s only goal.
Nenrot Silas stole the show as Plateau United thumped Gombe United 4-0 in the match day’s early kick-off at the New Jos Stadium. The former junior international scored a second-half hat trick after Alex Enejoh’s opener to lead the Peace Boys back to winning ways.
Akwa United also secured back-to-back wins in Uyo after beating 2023 Federation Cup champions Bendel Insurance 3-1. Friday Ubong (brace) and Sani Suleiman scored for the hosts, while Zaidu Ayuba scored for the Benin side. In Ilorin, Kwara United defeated Bayelsa United 1-0 to ease their relegation worries. Alao Mohammed got the game’s only goal in the 15th minute. Meanwhile, Azeez Akintunde’s early goal was all Niger Tornadoes needed to beat Sporting Lagos in Kaduna.
Heartland ended a run of eight games without a win by beating Oriental rivals Abia Warriors 2-0 at the Awka City Stadium. Onyekachi Okafor and Ikechukwu Mgbemena scored in the space of five first-half minutes to earn embattled coach Christian Obi his first NPFL win of the season.
Meanwhile, Rangers continued their impressive run on the road as they held Kano Pillars to a 1-1 draw at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. Sani Mubarak’s first-half goal for Sai Masu Gida was cancelled out by Chinemerem Ugwueze in the second half for the visitors.
In Lafia, Lobi Stars continued their stronghold of the top spot after beating 2022 NPFL champions Rivers United 3-2. Samuel Tiza, Alao Danbani and Kumaga Suur scored for the hosts, while Ukeme Williams and Mark Gibson scored for Stanley Eguma’s side.
Match day 26 will be played this weekend with the South-West derby between Shooting Stars and Remo Stars top of the schedule.
MD 25 results
Tornadoes 1-0 Sporting Lagos
Doma Utd 0-1 3SC
Kano Pillars 1-1 Rangers
Sunshine Stars 1-0 Katsina Utd
Heartland 2-0 Abia Warriors
Lobi Stars 3-2 Rivers Utd
Kwara Utd 1-0 Bayelsa Utd
Remo Stars 1-0 Enyimba
Akwa Utd 3-1 Bendel Insurance
Plateau Utd 4-0 Gombe Utd
