Remo Stars stepped up their chances of finishing with a continental ticket, completing a season’s double over Wikki Tourists in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Matchday 26 fixture played at the Remo Stadium, Ikenne.
Remo Stars Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote played without four of his first-team players due to card suspension, injury, and National U20 duty and handed a season debut to Alhameen Adegbite in the match they won to move into the third position on the log with 43 points.
He said the match was made difficult by the absence of those four players and noted that his rookie player made expected starter’s errors.
“It was a difficult situation for us, missing four first-team players for today’s game. But I will pardon Adegbite for his errors in the game, it’s not easy to make your debut in the second round of the season, and starting the game came with pressure.
“I knew it would be a difficult game. Completing the season double over Wikki was a huge job for us. They are mobile and fast, and we had to contain their plans and get the job. We want to finish the season in a respectable position and we are not focused on continental tickets,” said Ogunbote to www.npfl.ng.
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Lekan Adebayo’s first-half strike inspired the Sky Blue side to a 1-0 win on Sunday evening. They had won the first leg of the same fixture 2-1 in January in Bauchi.
The hosts started the game chasing for a lead while debutant Wikki Tourists goalkeeper, Sulaiman Dogo was forced to make the first save of the game in the 8th minute when he punched Qudus Akanni’s 20-yard shot to safety. Two minutes later, the goalscorer Adebayo hit the woodwork from close range.
The visitors had their first attempt in the 14th minute when Nelson Abian’s 30-yard free-kick was calmly saved by the host goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole. The game became tense and physical but it was Adebayo who found space in the visitor’s area to finish beautifully for the only goal of the game in the 26th minute.
The second half witnessed Remo Stars dominating but founding it difficult to break Wikki’s defense to double their lead. Remo Stars’ Haruna Hadi hit the woodwork in the 72nd minute, and Ibrahim Yusuf’s 20-yard attempt went inches wide late in the game.
Remo Stars XI:
35. Kayode Bankole (GK), 12. Abdulrasheed Abiodun, 3. Ewelike Edozie, 28. Abayomi Adebayo, 25. Junior Nduka (C) (29. Noah Olawale – 83′), 13. Isah Ali, 10. Lekan Adedayo, 17. Samuel Anakwe (33. Sunday Williams – 65′), 14. Alhameen Adegbite (32. Ibrahim Yusuf – 83′), 15. Sikiru Kamal (16. Haruna Hadi – 46′) 18. Qudus Akanni 7 (Morgan Agbeko – 83′).
Unused Subs:
1. Emmanuel Daniel (GK), 23. Stanley Okorom, 20. Oshobe Shuji, 37. Oladimeji Dada.
Wikki Tourists XI:
22. Sulaiman Saliu Dogo (GK), 6. Evans Ifeatu, 12. Nazifi Yahaya (20. Fu’ad Ekelujouti – 51′), 18. Victor Dawa, 26. Salomon Chigoziem, 28. Nelson Abiam, 35. Sunday Haruna, 36. Ridwan Adeshina (9. Manu Garba – 51′), 8. Abubakar Aliyu, 16. Oluwale Tolulope (33. Promise Damala – 34′), 17. Victor Okoro.
Unused Subs:
1. Galadima Mohammed (GK), 23. Ismail Maiyaki, 32. Akpo Godwin,
