NPFL: Remo Lose Third Straight Game, Pillars Too Strong For Warriors

Remo Stars suffered a third consecutive defeat after going down 1-0 in Makurdi to Lobi Stars on Monday in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Gabriel Wassa grabbed the only goal of the game in the 20th minute off a cross from Ifeanyi Ogba, the fifth assist for the forward, who is playing in his first season.

It was also the Pride of Benue’s second successive home win at the Aper Aku Stadium since February 2, when they were held 1-1 by Niger Tornadoes.

The Sky Blue Stars have now lost all the matches since the end of their unbeaten start to the season on February 13 in Gombe and have slumped to fourth spot with 23 points, but Lobi Stars jumped two places up to 12th with 19 points.

In Lafia, Nasarawa United recorded their first victory in three games, edging Niger Tornadoes 1-0. Ex-FC IfeanyiUbah striker Chijioke Alaekwe nodded home from close range off a crisp cross from Michael Tochukwu in the 23rd minute.

It’s a rebirth of sorts for Heartland under new manager, Erasmus Onuh, after they drew 1-1 against Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

They have now played four games under the new coach and have remained unbeaten. Katsina United struck first through Nasiru Sani in the 25th minute but their lead only lasted five minutes as Jonas Emmanuel was at the right place to stab home a cross from Jacob Chukwujike. It was only the second time the Owerri side would be scoring in an away fixture this season.

The morale boosting away draw meant the Owerri side moved a place up to the 18th spot with 13 points but Katsina United are in 17th with 14 points.

At the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Kano Pillars eventually ended their four-game winless streak with a 2-1 defeat of Abia Warriors. The visitors stunned their hosts with the curtain raiser in the 16th minute through Kalu Nweke from Godwin Obaje’s assist, but Sai Masu Gida leveled up through Saidu Salisu in the 27th minute. Abdullahi Musa completed the comeback with a deft finish six minutes into the second half.

Kano Pillars, who last won a league game on January 30th, 2022 in Owerri against Heartland are 14th on the table with 17 points but Abia Warriors continued to flirt with the drop zone as they are 16th with 14 points.