Remo Stars to Lift First-Ever NPFL Title at Home After Clinching 2024/25 Championship with Three Games Left
Remo Stars, the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, will be officially crowned on Sunday, May 11, following their final home fixture of the season against regional rivals Ikorodu City. This confirmation came from the NPFL board.
The Sky Blue Stars secured their first-ever NPFL title on Sunday with three games still to play, after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a match-day 35 encounter in Ikenne. The title-clinching moment came courtesy of a late goal from second-half substitute Olamilekan Adedayo, who broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute, sending the home crowd into celebration after prolonged resistance from the visitors.
Remo Stars’ final home game of the season will be the match-day 37 Southwest derby against Ikorodu City, where the title presentation will take place. According to NPFL Chairman Gbenga Elegbeleye, this arrangement ensures the champions receive their trophy in a celebratory home atmosphere. “We have three more matches to go, and we already have a champion,” Elegbeleye said in a radio interview. “The agreement is to crown them after their last home game. They want to be fully prepared for it.”
Elegbeleye praised the team’s preparation and performance, highlighting their impressive away record. “They won more matches on the road than any other team this season. That level of preparation led to their success,” he added.
Before the coronation, Remo Stars will travel to face El-Kanemi Warriors on match-day 36 next Wednesday, and will end their season with an away clash against Bayelsa United on May 18.
Speaking on broader league reforms, Elegbeleye noted that aligning the NPFL calendar with global football schedules is key. “We’re matching Europe’s calendar so that players seeking overseas trials during the off-season won’t be seen as absconding. This also helps clubs find replacements more easily,” he explained.
For their championship-winning campaign, Remo Stars will receive a record-breaking N200 million prize—an increase of 33.3 percent from last season’s N150 million. Elegbeleye emphasized the league’s financial growth: “We promised N100 million three years ago and delivered. Last season, it was N150 million. Now, it’s N200 million. We’re committed to steady, geometric progress. As we grow, the league becomes more marketable.”
With 68 points and a 10-point lead over second-placed Rivers United, Remo Stars have mathematically secured the title. Their triumph also marks a historic achievement, as they become the first club from Nigeria’s Southwest to win the topflight since Julius Berger’s victory in 2000.
