Champions Remo Stars will face last season’s runners-up Rivers United in the opening match of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, www.aclsports.com reports.
All is now set for the season curtain raiser between the two sides on Friday evening at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. It is the first time Remo Stars will be defending a league title in the Nigerian topflight. While Rivers United, who were champions in 2022, are keen to dethrone the Sky Blue Stars.
Remo Stars have been strong in the transfer market as they added the Malian duo of Chaka Coulibaly and Adama Goita. Prolific goalscorer and club legend, Victor Mbaoma, makes a return to the club, while they also added the likes of Mark Gibson, who was with Rivers United last season, goalkeeper Alladoum Kolimba, and many others to their ranks ahead of this exciting campaign.
On the other hand, the Pride of Rivers have gone for a mixture of experience and youth that has included the arrivals of former Enyimba goalkeepers Ani Ozoemena and John Noble. There is also a place for the likes of Nsi Effimi, Rivio Ayemwenre, Anthony Omaka, Seyi Oguntayo, Chinedu Sunday, and Isaac Annor, among other youth team products. Notably, the 2022 Champions have added Yemi Olanrewaju to their technical bench as Finidi George’s first assistant.
READ MORE: Spotlight on Remo Stars as 2025/26 season begins
Speaking ahead of the game, Rivers United head coach Finidi George said, “We are quite excited that the season is finally kicking off without delays. We must commend the league body for this prompt start to the league season. We are playing the reigning champions; it is going to be a tough one, but they are also playing away from home. So we will see how we can capitalize on that away advantage and pull off a surprise victory.
Meanwhile, Remo Stars are expected to miss some key players due to their involvement with the CHAN squad, handing a slight advantage to the visitors who recently beat them in a pre-season tournament in Lagos earlier in the off-season.
In the head-to-head between the two sides, Rivers United have lost just once in their last 11 meetings in the NPFL. Rivers United have had the upper hand in previous opening-day encounters between the two sides, recording a 2-0 home victory in the 2013/14 season and edging a 1-0 win in the 2019 opener.
Friday’s season opener is expected to kick off by 4pm, and it will be live on Propel Sports.
