3SC capable of shocking Remo, Lawal warns

General Manager of 3SC Dimeji Lawal insists the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League race is still open despite the former champions trailing Remo Stars by eight points, NewsNGR Sports Extra reports.

After 24 matches, Remo are top of the pack with 48 points followed by 3SC in second with 40 points, two points ahead of third-placed Rangers International to occupy the three continental slots from the league.

Despite failing to close the gap on Remo in their last two games which they lost, (2-0 at Kwara United and 2-1 at Heartland), Lawal believes they are still in a good position to pull a big surprise on the leaders.

“The league is still very open up till No. 6 on the table, whoever wants to be the champion must not lose focus, must remain resilient, must continue to respect other competitors, must take the games one by one, continuous hard work and remain disciplined. Any team with these characteristics can win the league,” Lawal said in a Facebook post.

“Remo will remain the team to beat to emerge champions, hard nut to crack but believe me, they are beatable. 3SC can actually pull a big surprise.”

Although the Oluyole Warriors set their eyes on a continental ticket as their season’s target at the start of the campaign, the five-time champions have been vocal about their chances of winning the title again with their last being in 1998.

Their other four titles were won in 1976, 1980, 1983 and 1995.

Remo, the current leader of the NPFL are yet to win their NPFL title in their 15-year history.

They have however gone close to the title in two consecutive seasons, losing out on goal difference to Enyimba in 2023 before finishing second behind Rangers in the last campaign.

3SC will hope to close the gap on Remo when they host Lobi Stars in Ibadan on Wednesday (today) while the leaders also have a date with Kwara United in Ikenne on Thursday as they hope to maintain their lead.