Defending champions Niger Tornadoes are out of the Ogunjobi Gold Cup preseason tournament after failing to qualify from Group A following its 2-2 draw with Remo Stars.
The Ikon Allah Boys needed to beat Remo Stars convincingly by 3-0 to stand a chance of picking one of the semi-final tickets but it was not to be as they twice came from behind.
It was an entertaining and soaked tensed first half that saw both Ibrahim Yusuf and Wakili Musa scoring a brace each for their teams.
Yusuf put Remo Stars ahead early in the 3rd minute as he capitalized on Tornadoes’ poor defending to score from a goalmouth scramble.
Remo Stars finally conceded a goal in the tourney as Tornadoes got back into the game nine minutes later after Wakili Musa turned in a cross from Jeremiah to make it 1-1.
The Sky Blue Stars regained the lead in the 16th minute after Yusuf tucked in a pass from Miracle Chinasa to make 2-1.
In the 44th minute, Tornadoes got a lifeline after Wakili made it 2-2. The attacking midfielder stood firm in the box to finish off from a goalmouth scramble.
Peter Momoh could have made it 3-2 in the 57th minute but his superb free-kick hit the woodwork despite beating Remo Stars wall and goalkeeper.
It was a little too late for Coach Abubakar Bala’s team as they felt hard done with their poor defending after the match official sounded the final whistle to end the match.
The result meant Remo Stars go top of the group with 7points followed by Kwara United with 6points, Tornadoes is on 4points while 36 Lion ended their campaign with no point or goal.
Both Remo Stars and Kwara United will on Monday get to know their semi-final opponents as FC Ebedei threw Group A open following its comeback win against Ekiti United.
All teams in the group, Gombe United, Ekiti United, ABS FC and FC Ebedei have 3points each going into the last games
