Remo Stars of Ikenne continued their remarkable run in the Nigerian football scene as they secured a spot in the national finals of the Naija Super Eight Play-off.
The high-riding team, who recently qualified for the CAF Champions League, showcased their dominance by defeating Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan with an impressive 3-0 victory in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
Remo Stars wasted no time in asserting their authority, with Andy Okpe opening the scoring in the seventh minute. Nweze Boniface doubled their lead just five minutes later with a well-executed header from a corner kick.
Although 3SC attempted a comeback, they failed to convert their chances, and Remo Stars maintained their two-goal advantage heading into halftime.
The second half witnessed a lack of goal-scoring opportunities for both teams.
However, in the 74th minute, Samuel Anakwe sealed the win for Remo Stars with a close-range finish, extending their lead to 3-0.
This victory further solidified Remo Stars’ dominance over 3SC, as they maintained their unbeaten record against the Ibadan-based club.
The fine display of midfielder Qudus Akanni played a crucial role in driving Remo Stars’ success in the game.
In the opening match of the tournament, Lobi Stars secured the North-Central zone ticket by defeating City FC of Abuja in a thrilling encounter that ended in a penalty shootout.
Lobi Stars took the lead through David Okoroni in the 30th minute, but City FC fought back, equalizing through Ibrahim Mahfus in the 53rd minute and taking the lead with Arinze Ogbonna’s goal in the 76th minute.
However, Lobi Stars’ Joseph Atule scored in the 87th minute to level the game, eventually leading to a penalty shootout that Lobi Stars won 4-3.
The Naija Super Eight Play-off, organized by Flykite Productions in collaboration with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsors including MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi, and Custodian Assurance, offers substantial monetary rewards for the participating teams.
Each team earns N3 million per game, with the runner-up receiving N9 million and the winner claiming N25 million.
Additionally, individual players stand a chance to pocket N250,000 as the best player of each match, while teams with the most supportive fans also receive monetary rewards.
The tournament continues today as Heartland FC of Owerri and Enyimba FC of Aba battle it out in the Southeast, while Rivers United and Bendel Insurance compete in the South South region for the opportunity to represent their zone in the national finals.
