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

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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.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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