After two agonizing seasons as bridesmaids, Remo Stars have controversially snatched their maiden Nigeria Premier Football League title, sparking celebrations and igniting debate about a potential power shift. Their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, courtesy of Lekan Adedayo’s late strike, sealed the championship with three games still in hand. �
The win propelled the Sky Blue Stars to an unassailable 68 points from 35 matches, leaving Finidi George’s Rivers United trailing by a significant 10 points. This triumph marks a historic moment for Remo Stars, making them only the 11th privately owned club to conquer the Nigerian top flight and, more notably, the first to do so in a staggering 19 years since Ocean Boys’ victory in 2006 � a period dominated by traditionally stronger, often government-backed, clubs like dethroned champions Enugu Rangers. �
Mighty Jets first broke the private club barrier in 1972, with a lineage including Racca Rovers, New Nigeria Bank, Leventis United, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Julius Berger, Stationery Stores, BCC Lions, Udoji United, and Ocean Boys preceding Remo Stars in this exclusive club over 53 years of Nigerian professional football.
Reflecting on the tense victory against Niger Tornadoes, coach Daniel Ogunmodede admitted the weight of expectation. “We were tense, yes. We knew the consequences of winning the match. So, the tension got to us, honestly; most importantly, me, myself, and it got to the boys. I must admit that,” he told Premium Times.
He acknowledged missed early chances due to the pressure, stating, “We got a couple of chances early in the game. And, you know, under pressure, we missed them. It put a lot of pressure on us… Maybe we just needed to end the league today. We didn�t want to procrastinate again; we�re tired. We just wanted to stop, and we knew this was the final destination. I must salute the boys. Tornadoes gave us a very good fight.”
Beyond their long-awaited league title, Remo Stars have also secured a coveted spot in next season’s CAF Champions League, setting their sights on emulating the continental success of clubs like Enyimba. Their remaining league fixtures against El Kanemi Warriors, Ikorodu City, and Bayelsa United will now serve as a celebratory lap of honour as the NPFL 2024-25 season draws to a close on May 25th, leaving dethroned giants Enugu Rangers to ponder their fall from grace as a new private force rises in Nigerian football. �
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