The battle for the 2024/25 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) crown is almost over with Remo Stars having established an eight-point lead in the race for the title.
After stuttering in Benin where they lost to Bendel Insurance in Week 28, Remo Stars returned to Ikenne at the weekend to hammer Heartland of Owerri 2-0. The win took their points haul to 57, eight points better than second-placed Rivers United, who are on 49 points.
Third-placed defending champions, Enugu Rangers, are on 45 points, same with Ikorodu City, who are fourth on inferior goals difference, while Abia Warriors are fifth on 45 points.
Remo Stars are almost certain to crown their campaign with the league trophy, as it would take a heavy loss of form and games to give any of the lurking teams an opportunity to overtake them on the table.
However, the battle for the remaining African inter-club competitions’ slots are still wide open with any of the second to eight-placed teams capable of finishing second and third at the end of the season.
The second-placed team will join Remo Stars in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, while the third-placed team will play in the CAF Confederation Cup. So, Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars, who are on 43 points each and are placed sixth and seventh respectively, as well as Enyimba (eighth position) can still nick any of the tickets if results go their way.
Resurging Enyimba, who are on a four-game streak without a loss, were almost running away with an away victory over Ikorodu City on Sunday in Lagos before a 98th minute equaliser split the points between the two teams.
But Rivers United did not allow any late surge to dampen their joy in Maiduguri, where they defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 to keep their continental dreams alive.
Speaking on his team’s bid to return to the continent after failing in the group stage of the 2024/25 CAF Confederation Cup, Enyimba Coach, Stanley Eguma, acknowledged that the 2-2 draw with Ikorodu City was a huge setback, adding, however, that they would continue fighting till the end of the season.
He said: “We will take it one game at a time. Today we have picked a draw, we have to go back home and work harder for our home games. No game is easy; every game is very tough.
We have to plan for all games until the end of the season. We are still optimistic that we can get a continental ticket, but we have to work for it, and we’re still on course.”
Enyimba will continue a late quest for a continental slot with a home game against Bayelsa United in Aba, on Sunday. Before then, the People’s Elephant will face El-Sharma FC in a Round of 64 fixture in the President Federation Cup today.
League leaders, Remo Stars, wil be away to Lobi Stars, who play their home games at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, while Bendel Insurance will host Sunshine Stars in Benin this weekend. Plateau United and Kano Pillars will clash at the New Jos Township Stadium, while Nasarawa United will host Enugu Rangers International in Lafia.
Kwara United and Akwa United will clash in Ilorin, while in Ibadan, Shooting Stars Sports Club will host Niger Tornadoes in a game that they need to win to keep their continental hopes alive.
