NPFL Title Race: This Time For Remo Stars – Who Will Stop The Sky Blues After Rivers United Slip In Week 21?
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race has taken a dramatic turn, and if there were any doubters left, Remo Stars are steadily converting them. Before the season kicked off, I predicted a Remo Stars NPFL title win in 2024/2025 – that prediction is on course.
Like a determined marathon runner hitting the final stretch, Coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s men have found their second wind, while their closest competitors are gasping for breath.
Remo Stars: Written in the Stars?
At the start of the season, whispers filled the air about Remo Stars being perennial runners-up—close, but never quite there. Two consecutive second-place finishes behind Enyimba in 2022/2023 and Rangers International in 2023/2024 had given them the reputation of “nearly men.” But now, with 21 rounds gone, they are writing their own script, and it has all the markings of a blockbuster.
Their last two victories have been the stuff of champions. In Week 20, they clawed back from a goal down to defeat Akwa United 2-1 in Uyo. Just this Wednesday, they performed an encore, turning a 2-0 deficit into a stunning 3-2 comeback win against Abia Warriors in Ikenne. If resilience was a trophy, they would have lifted it already!
Rivers United and Enyimba Stumble at Home
Rivers United were expected to mount a serious challenge, but their recent form suggests they have misplaced their title aspirations. Held to a goalless draw at home by Bendel Insurance, they now find themselves third on the table, seven points adrift of the Sky Blues.
Enyimba, once kings of the NPFL jungle, are barely clinging to relevance. A 1-1 draw against relegation-threatened Heartland has left their fans with more questions than answers. At ninth place with 28 points, they now need a miracle rather than mathematics to catch up.
The Chasing Pack: Shooting Stars and the Underdogs
If there’s any team keeping Remo Stars on their toes, it’s Shooting Stars. The Ibadan-based outfit have strung together five consecutive wins, the latest being a comfortable 2-0 victory over Nasarawa United. Sitting six points behind the leaders, they are the closest challengers, but the question remains: do they have the stamina for the final lap?
Meanwhile, El Kanemi Warriors and Ikorodu City are proving to be the season’s dark horses. Ikorodu City’s 4-1 demolition of Kano Pillars sent shockwaves through the league, while El Kanemi stunned Rangers International with a 2-1 victory. Could one of these sides still have a say in the title race?
What’s Next?
With seventeen matches left, the NPFL is heading towards a thrilling climax. Remo Stars have the title within reach, but the road ahead remains tricky. Shooting Stars are lurking, Rivers United are wounded but not out – Who will stop the Stars?
