It was a momentous occasion for Remo Stars as they earned their first-ever national title on Sunday. It was the first time the club had won a national trophy. It was also the first time the Nigerian title was presented in a little town.
It is historical for Ikenne, which is fast becoming the epicentre of football activities in Nigeria.
Some of the national teams have found a haven in the town, and even the Super 6 league of the women’s league is currently being held in the little town.
The town hosted its first NPFL match on 26 December 2021 when Remo Stars beat Heartland 3-0. It followed up hosting a continental for the first time on 18 September 2022.
On July 17, 2022, Remo Stars earned their very first continental ticket when they beat Niger Tornadoes 3-0 in Ikenne.
Coincidentally, it was also a defeat of Niger Tornadoes this year that has earned the club its first league title and another shot at continental appearance.
The town played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s U17 ladies team picking a ticket for another World Cup appearance. The team’s home matches were played in Ikenne just at the town also hosted the CHAN Eagles training session ahead of eventual qualification for the continental appearance.
In receiving the NPFL trophy on Sunday, it was in the form of an exchange of baton. Abubakar Lawal, the Managing Director of GTI Asset Management and Trust Limited, which fuelled the league, picked the trophy from the podium where it had been placed by former international, Samson Ozogula.
He passed it to the chairman of the NPFL, Gbenga Elegbeleye, who, in turn, handed it over to the President of the NFF, Ibrahim Gusau.
With trophy going in ascending order, it was passed on to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission who handed it over to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The trophy was later presented by the governor to Nduka Junior, the captain of Remo Stars. Expectedly, the atmosphere became electrified with confetti flying over the podium and followed by fireworks, which lit the skies.
