A Thrilling Comeback and a Stalled Pursuit of History in the NPFL
The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu bore witness to a captivating encounter between Remo Stars and Lobi Stars in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday 30 fixture. Remo Stars, league leaders, staged a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against bottom-placed Lobi Stars. The match, originally slated for an earlier date, was postponed due to the involvement of several Remo Stars players with the Nigerian national team during the March international window. The rescheduling placed both teams back in action midweek, with Lobi Stars displaying an early urgency, determined to break their protracted winless streak.
Lobi Stars seized the initiative early on, capitalizing on their home advantage and their opponents’ initial sluggishness. Johnmark Aule orchestrated the opening goal in the 35th minute, showcasing a fluid attacking move with Segun Oloruntoba to give the hosts a rare lead. This breakthrough injected a much-needed dose of confidence into the Lobi Stars squad. Just seven minutes later, their lead doubled when Onyekachi Okafor confidently converted a penalty awarded after a foul inside the Remo Stars box. The first half ended with Lobi Stars firmly in control, leaving Remo Stars with a mountain to climb.
The second half witnessed a transformed Remo Stars side, energized and determined to claw their way back into the game. Coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s tactical changes at halftime proved instrumental. Introducing Haruna Hadi and Joseph Abah for Sikiru Alimi and Seun Ogunribide respectively, he injected fresh legs and attacking impetus into the team. The substitutions paid immediate dividends as Remo Stars began to exert pressure on the Lobi Stars defense. While Olamilekan Adedayo missed an opportunity to halve the deficit early in the second half, Hadi capitalized on a chance four minutes later, finishing decisively to reduce the margin.
The momentum firmly shifted towards Remo Stars, and their attacking intent was further reinforced by the introduction of Samson Olasupo and Alex Oyowah, replacing Adedayo and Samuel Anakwe. The pressure finally paid off in the 70th minute when Joseph Abah, one of the halftime substitutes, netted the equalizer, completing the comeback. Abah’s impact off the bench proved crucial, securing a valuable point for Remo Stars and ensuring they maintained their lead at the top of the NPFL table. The draw extended their advantage over second-placed Rivers United to six points.
Despite the impressive comeback, the draw dealt a blow to Remo Stars’ ambitions of setting a new NPFL points record. Their pursuit of Rivers United’s record of 77 points in a single season became slightly more challenging. With 61 points from 32 matches, Remo Stars now require victories in all their remaining six fixtures to match the record. The draw highlighted the competitive nature of the NPFL and the difficulty of maintaining a consistent winning streak throughout a demanding season.
For Lobi Stars, the draw, while a positive result against the league leaders, unfortunately extended their winless streak to 15 matches, a run stretching back to their victory against Plateau United on December 12, 2024. Remaining rooted at the bottom of the table with 25 points from 32 matches, Lobi Stars face a daunting task to avoid relegation. Their recent form, with nine losses and six draws in their last 15 outings, underscores the challenges facing the team. With the season drawing to a close, Lobi Stars face a critical period where they must find a way to turn their fortunes around and secure enough points to maintain their top-flight status. Both teams look ahead to their next fixtures, with Remo Stars hosting Katsina United and Lobi Stars traveling to face Kano Pillars, both matches scheduled for Sunday, April 13.
