Remo Stars returned to the summit of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League table after a late 2-0 win over Lobi Stars in the top-of-the-table clash at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne on Thursday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Sky Blue Stars and Lobi Stars faced off in the star fixture of match day 15 to determine which side will be top of the pile on Christmas day and it was the former who prevailed via two late goals in the keenly contested affair.
Former Lobi Stars man, Sikiru Alimi – for his 10th league goal of the season – glanced home a corner from substitute Olamilekan Adams on the stroke of 90 minutes before Adams bundled home a second after the Pride of Benue failed to clear their lines in stoppage time.
The win took Remo Stars back to the top of the log after Doma United’s 1-0 win over Heartland earlier on Wednesday courtesy of Nelson Abiam’s goal.
In Aba, Enyimba and Rangers cancelled each other out in the Oriental derby. Chijioke Mbaoma’s early goal was extinguished by a late goal from Kazeem Ogunleye for the Flying Antelopes.
Despite Fatai Osho’s decision to leave Akwa United after an uninspiring start to the season, the 2021 NPFL champions could not beat Sunshine Stars in Eket on Thursday as the game finished goalless.
Evans Ogbona scored the only goal as Bendel Insurance recorded another 1-0 home win over Abia Warriors in Benin. Similarly, Bashir Usman scored a late goal to hand Niger Tornadoes all three points at the expense of Kano Pillars.
In Ilorin, Kwara United came from a goal down to beat Plateau United. In-form Albert Hillary handed the visitors the lead with his fifth goal in three games before Kabiru Balogun curled home a freekick to drag the Harmony Boys level. In the 84th minute, Sadeeq Yusuf grabbed the winner for Kwara United to hand some relief to embattled head coach Kabiru Dogo.
Robert Mizo’s 10th league goal of the season for Bayelsa United was cancelled out by Aliu Salawudeen as Sporting Lagos avoided defeat at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan once again.
Meanwhile, Shooting Stars v Rivers United was postponed due to the latter’s involvement in the CAF Confed Cup on Wednesday.
RESULTS
Remo Stars 2-0 Lobi Stars
Doma United 1-0 Heartland
Enyimba 1-1 Rangers
Kwara United 2-1 Plateau United
Akwa United 0-0 Sunshine Stars
Bendel Insurance 1-0 Abia Warriors
Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Kano Pillars
Gombe United 1-0 Katsina United
Sporting Lagos 1-1 Bayelsa United
