Remo Stars came from behind to beat Rangers International 2-1 as Fidelis Ilechukwu’s side suffered their first defeat in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Sky Blue Stars welcomed the Flying Antelopes to the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo in Matchday two of the NPFL.
It is the first game for Remo Stars this season as they didn’t join the rest of the teams last weekend in Matchday One due to Rivers United involvement in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Coach Daniel Ogunmodede had confidence in the academy product as he handed quick starts to just promoted Stanley Joseph and Ahmed Akinyele to join captain Junior Nduka in a back three defence line.
The Coach had Sodiq Ismail, Seun Ogunribide, Jide Fatokun, Olamilekan Adedayo and Haruna Hadi in the midfield, Sikiru Alimi and newly signed forward, Samad Kadiri paired upfront to complete the starting XI for the Sky Blue Stars.
Kazeem Ogunleye scored after eight minutes to put Rangers International ahead, but a beautiful finish from Seun Ogunribide after 35 minutes meant the two sides went in level at half-time.
Returnee Sikiru Alimi put the Sky Blue Stars ahead after he expertly converted Sodiq Ismail’s cross on 52 minutes to give Remo Stars a deserved victory over the visitors.
It could have been the third goal for the home side after Qudus Akanni tried his luck from distance but the goalkeeper, Japhet Opubo scrambled to save.
In an interview after the game, Coach Daniel Ogunmodede admitted that the team had a terrible first ten minutes and at the end were lucky to get the victory.
“We had a very terrible first ten minutes making such a crucial mistake, most especially coming from our young lad but luckily we stood up to the course to get the victory.
I am happy with the young lads that were introduced in this tough task, for me it’s not an act to ridicule them, but to make them grow in it. This is part of the experience they need and the happiest moment of it is that the mistake came from our young lads were they will learn and grow, and we ended up winning at the end of it.” Ogunmodede.
Remo Stars will now travel to Porthacourt to face Rivers United for the rescheduled Match day one fixture on Thursday.
