Remo Stars set to appoint Ajibolade after near-relegation scare

Remo Stars are poised to hand the managerial reins to highly rated Beyond Limits Academy coach Olumide Ajibolade as they attempt to rebuild from a chaotic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign, Soccernet.ng understands.

The former NPFL champions, who lifted the league title just two seasons ago under Daniel Ogunmodede, endured a dramatic slump last term, finishing 17th and surviving relegation by the narrowest of margins in a league where four teams go down.

The Ikenne-based club have been without a substantive head coach since the end of last season, but sources indicate Ajibolade is now the leading candidate to take charge ahead of the new campaign.

From title winners to relegation battle

Remo Stars’ rapid fall from grace has shocked many observers in Nigerian football.

Only two years ago, the Sky Blue Stars were celebrating as champions of the NPFL, with Ogunmodede widely praised for his tactical acumen and the team’s entertaining style.

Last season, however, unravelled. The club slid down the table and finished 17th, only narrowly avoiding dropping into the Nigeria National League (NNL). The threat was particularly stark because, unlike many other top divisions around the world, the NPFL relegates four clubs each season.

Ogunmodede’s extended absence played a role in the instability. For much of the campaign he was away on duty as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles and also attending coaching courses, leaving gaps in leadership at club level.

In a late attempt to halt the slide, Remo Stars turned to experienced coach Usman Abdallah to lead a survival push. Despite his arrival, the team remained in danger until the final stages of the season.

At the close of the campaign, the club confirmed Ogunmodede’s departure. He has since been appointed head coach of Kano Pillars. Abdallah also left, leaving Remo Stars without a permanent manager and prompting a search for a new direction.

Ajibolade emerges as front-runner

That search now appears to have settled on 35-year-old Ajibolade, who has built a growing reputation within the Remo football structure.

His association with the club began in 2019 when he was appointed Under-17 coach. In 2021, he took charge of Beyond Limits Football Academy, the club’s development arm, and has since turned it into one of the most successful youth programmes in the country.

Soccernet.ng understands Ajibolade is “in the front seat” to become the next head coach of Remo Stars, with his deep knowledge of the club and its talent pipeline seen as a major advantage.

Trophy-laden rise through the ranks

Ajibolade’s record at academy and youth level is regarded as outstanding.

He has led Beyond Limits to multiple honours, including The Creative Championship (TCC), the Ogun State FA Cup, the prestigious Viareggio Cup in Italy, and the recently concluded Gothia Cup in Sweden – all tournaments which have boosted the club’s reputation on the international stage.

Beyond his club duties, Ajibolade has also been increasingly involved with Nigeria’s national youth teams. In 2024 he was appointed assistant coach to Manu Garba and is currently serving as first assistant to Golden Eaglets head coach Eboboritse Uwejamomere.

This dual role at club and national level has burnished his credentials as one of the brightest coaching prospects in Nigerian football.

Promotion credentials and NPFL know-how

Crucially for Remo Stars, Ajibolade already has hands-on experience of navigating the Nigerian league system.

He has worked in the NNL and most recently guided Beyond Limits to promotion to the NPFL in 2024, a feat that has underlined his tactical nous and ability to manage in demanding conditions.

Club insiders believe that blend of youth development expertise, national team exposure and direct knowledge of the NPFL “terrain” equips him to stabilise Remo Stars and push them back towards the upper reaches of the table.

If his appointment is confirmed, Ajibolade would inherit a squad in need of renewal and renewed belief, as the Sky Blue Stars look to ensure last season’s relegation scare remains a one-off rather than the start of a downward spiral.