Hosts Remo Stars Football Club of Ikenne on Saturday beat Sunshine Stars FC of Akure 1-0 to lead the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table.
In a Match Day 2 fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Shuaibu Ibrahim scored after seven minutes to hand the game’s full points to the hosts.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ibrahim latched on just after the centre-circle to a pass floated over retreating Sunshine Stars players to head towards goal.
He controlled the high ball, shrugged off the attention of two opponents with good pace to veer to the right side of the visiting side’s goalmouth.
Ibrahim then whipped a low shot past advancing goalkeeper David Obiazo to score and take them to six points from two games, with three goals scored and none conceded.
The goal momentarily settled the opening ding-dong affair between both sides, even though the visitors were quick to fight back in the face of their hosts seemingly sitting on their lead.
Their fightback was however without much firepower as the hosts easily held them off to cling to a slim win that takes them to the league’s top position.
But it is a situation that can change by Sunday evening after six other Match Day 2 fixtures, with five other sides looking capable of dislodging them on goals difference.
Earlier on Saturday, former champions Rivers United of Port Harcourt beat visiting Heartland FC of Owerri 3-1 to move into second position on the log. (NAN)