Reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, came from behind to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over El Kanemi Warriors in Abeokuta on Monday, ending a five-game losing streak across all competitions.
The Sky Blue Stars looked set for another frustrating result after Jonas Emmanuel headed El Kanemi into the lead in the 58th minute. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances in the first half, Remo were kept at bay by the visitors’ disciplined defensive setup.
Victor Mbaoma nearly leveled before halftime, striking the crossbar in stoppage time, while Olamilekan Adedayo and Adama Goita had their long-range efforts denied by a vigilant El Kanemi goalkeeper.
Emmanuel’s header from a corner unexpectedly put the visitors ahead, silencing the home fans. With head coach Daniel Ogunmodede away on Super Eagles duty in Morocco, assistant coach Sulaimon Kamil took charge and responded with attacking substitutions, bringing on Haruna Hadi and Samson Olasupo. Their introduction injected pace and urgency into Remo’s forward play.
The breakthrough came in the 87th minute when Mbaoma was fouled in the box, and he confidently converted the resulting penalty to level the match.
In stoppage time, Remo’s relentless pressure paid off. A cross caused confusion in the El Kanemi defense, and the rebound fell to Michael Ibe, who smashed home the winner in the 95th minute to complete a remarkable comeback.
The win lifted Remo Stars to 16th on the NPFL table with 13 points and two games in hand. It marked their first league triumph in over a month, and they will look to build momentum when they host Enugu Rangers in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Elsewhere in the league, Rivers United claimed a narrow 1-0 away win over Kun Khalifat, thanks to Maclyn Biokpo’s 78th-minute strike. The victory moved Finidi George’s men into the top four with 20 points, three behind league leaders Nasarawa United, with a game in hand.
At the New Jos Stadium, Plateau United maintained their impressive form, defeating Bendel Insurance 1-0 courtesy of Saka Gafar’s early second-half goal.
The defeat extended Bendel Insurance’s winless streak to seven matches, intensifying pressure on new coach Kennedy Boboye as the Benin-based side slipped to 19th place on the league table.
