Remo Stars Win First NPFL Title After Beating Tornadoes

Remo Stars etched their name in the history books on Sunday after securing their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

The PUNCH reports that the Ogun State-based club sealed the 2024/2025 title with three games to spare, capping off a remarkable season.

Second-half substitute Olamilekan Adedayo emerged the hero once again for Daniel Ogunmodede’s side, scoring the decisive goal that not only secured the win but also confirmed their place as champions.

Following Rivers United’s slip-up against Kano Pillars on Friday, Remo Stars entered Sunday’s fixture knowing that a win would be enough to wrap up the title. However, they faced a stubborn Niger Tornadoes side fighting to escape relegation, making the contest anything but straightforward.

The hosts started brightly, with Alex Oyowah finding the net early in the fifth minute, but his goal was chalked off for offside. That disallowed effort seemed to blunt their initial momentum as they settled into a slower, more cautious rhythm without creating clear chances.

Tornadoes, on their part, had a tame opportunity through Williams Sunday, but Remo’s goalkeeper Adebiyi Obassa remained largely untroubled as both sides went into halftime goalless.

After the restart, Remo Stars resumed with greater intensity, but Tornadoes defended resolutely, making two crucial goal-line clearances to keep the home side at bay. Remo’s pressure mounted in the second half, with Sikiru Alimi forcing a point-blank save from Tornadoes goalkeeper Enaholo in the 61st minute and Oyowah rattling the crossbar with a follow-up effort.

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Oyowah continued to threaten, heading wide from a Sodiq Ismail cross in the 70th minute and later firing into the side netting after a slick one-two combination with Kudus Akanni. Despite their dominance, the breakthrough remained elusive as the clock ticked down.

Sensing the urgency, coach Daniel Ogunmodede introduced substitutes Olamilekan Adedayo and Samson Olasupo in the 79th minute, a move that would quickly pay dividends. Barely five minutes after coming on, Adedayo unleashed a thunderous strike that hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line, sparking wild celebrations among the home fans.

Although Niger Tornadoes vehemently protested the goal, claiming it had not crossed the line, the referee awarded it, and there was no denying Remo Stars their historic moment.

The win marked Remo Stars’ 21st victory of the season, taking them to an uncatchable 69 points, 10 clear of Rivers United with just three matches remaining. More significantly, Remo Stars became the first club from Nigeria’s Southwest region to win the NPFL title since Julius Berger FC achieved the feat in 1991.

For Niger Tornadoes, the defeat left them hovering precariously above the relegation zone with 44 points, just two points ahead of 17th-placed Heartland, with three matches left to fight for survival. Remo Stars’ achievement represents a significant milestone not just for the club but for football development in the Southwest and signals the rise of a new force in Nigerian club football.

All eyes will now be on Ikenne as the new champions aim to finish the season on a high and possibly set a points record.

 

 

 

 

 

Content Credit: Oyedepo Oluwafifedoyinsola

Image Credit: thenationonlineng.net