Nigeria Leagues
CAF-bound Remo Stars edge Kwara United in ValueJet preseason showdown

By Dayo Awoniyi
Remo Stars and Kwara United, Nigeria’s representatives in the upcoming CAF inter-club competitions, tested their readiness for the new season in a highly competitive ValueJet preseason encounter on Saturday in Ikenne.
The reigning Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Remo Stars, emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.
Jerome opened the scoring for Remo Stars in the 30th minute, and seven minutes later, Victor Mbaoma doubled the advantage, giving the Sky Blue Stars a comfortable lead.
Kwara United quickly responded, with Babatunde Bright halving the deficit in the 39th minute, setting up a tense and action-packed second half.
The match served as a valuable litmus test for both teams, replicating the high-intensity environment expected in CAF competitions.
Kwara United mounted a strong comeback effort in the second half, with Issah Gata narrowly missing the target on multiple occasions, but Remo Stars held firm through disciplined defending and alert goalkeeping.
Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni emphasized the importance of the fixture as a tool for squad assessment rather than just the result. New signings Gidado Toheeb, Babatunde Bright, and Oluwasegun Ogunribide showed flashes of promise during their time on the pitch.
“It’s a work in progress,” Sanni stated post-match. “There are areas that need improvement, and we’ll address them as the preseason continues.”
Both clubs are looking to sharpen their offensive execution, solidify their defensive organization, and foster stronger team chemistry as they gear up to represent Nigeria on the continental stage and compete for top honours in the upcoming NPFL season.
