By Chinedum Ohanusi
Aside from being one of the only two sides to have recorded away wins, on Matchday 20 of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Remo Stars FC are clearly the biggest winners of the weekend, having extended their lead, on top of the log to 5 points.
Remo Stars edged struggling Akwa United FC 2-1 in Uyo to take their points tally at the summit of the NPFL log to 42; and things got even better for them, as their closest rival, Rivers United FC were beaten 2-1 by a resolute Plateau United FC side, in Jos.
Meanwhile, Head Coach of Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu, Fidelis Ilechukwu has described his sides 1-2 loss to Niger Tornadoes of Minna at the Cathedral as both appalling and unacceptable.
“I want to really apologize to the fans in particular, because what we put out there as a team, as defending champions of the NPFL, was shambolic, and we will do our best to banish the memories of this terrible result, in our coming games”, Ilechukwu told reporters after the game, played on Saturday.
He added that he and the players, “will quickly gloss over this, and hopefully we will get it right, and regain all lost ground, and when the season is ended, we would be congratulated”.
On the missed penalty awarded to his side, Ilechukwu said the story might have been different, if veteran forward Godwin Obaje was available for the match. He however felt there were players who could have done better, than OkeChukwu Chidozie, the player who volunteered to take it, but couldn’t convert.
On his side’s struggles to put away several chances, the CHAN Eagles coach, said he and the management of the Flying Antelopes wanted to sign a couple of strikers from the Under-19 league; “but the challenge is that as soon as any forward in the NPFL scores 10 goals or thereabout, they are off to trials, abroad”.
The management of Rangers, also seems to be vexed with the officiating of the game, and has circulated a video, which clearly showed that a valid goal scored during the match, was wrongly chalked off, as offside.
Meanwhile, Rangers Int’l FC yesterday announced the capture of Mgbemena Ikechukwu, from Oriental rivals, Heartland FC of Owerri, on a three year deal, that will have him at the Cathedral until the end of the 2027/28 season.
Surprisingly, the player who has played nine times for the Naze Millionaires this season without a goal nor assist to his name, and only recently got a recall to the CHAN Eagles is a
defensive midfielder, and not a striker.
Rangers, however wrote on their various Social Media platforms that they are delighted to confirm the signing of Mgbemena, ahead of their trip to Maidugiri by flight for the Day 21 encounter against El-kanami Warriors FC, this midweek.
Elsewhere, the only NPFL fixture played on Monday, was a rescheduled Day 16 encounter, in which Kwara United FC scored a goal in each half Wasiu Alalale (6th min), and Junior Aimufua (38th min), to beat Enyimba Int’l FC 2-0, at the Kwara Sports Complex, in Ilorin.
Following losses to Zamalek SC (1-3) in Cairo, and a 0-2 loss to Kano Pillars last midweek; this was the 3rd defeat for the nine-time NPFL Champions; whose dip in form seems to persist, despite the hiring of veteran tactician Stanley Eguma, in place of the sacked Coach Yemi Olanrewaju.
*Other Day 20 Results:*
Sunshine Stars 4-3 Ikorodu City
Nasarawa United 1-0 Katsina United
Heartland FC 1-0 Lobi Stars FC
Abia Warriors 1-0 Bayelsa United
