Ogunmodede admits tough NPFL title race
Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, believes the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League race is getting tougher for the Sky Blue Stars as the season winds down despite holding an 11-point lead at the top of the table, The NewsNGR reports.
Ogunmodede’s side steered further away from other contenders in the title race after match-day 27, following their hard-fought 1-0 win over Plateau United in Ikenne on Sunday before second-placed Rivers United and third-placed 3SC played out a goalless draw in Ibadan on Monday in Ibadan.
Former Sunshine Stars striker Samson Olasupo got the only goal of the game in the 75th minute to mark his return to the Nigerian topflight after a short stint in Europe.
Though there were jubilations among Remo Stars supporters after Rivers and 3SC played out a goalless draw on Monday, Ogunmodede feels differently, noting that the pressure is heightening in Ikenne.
“Our last five games have been like this,” Ogunmodede said after Sunday’s win.
“The pressure is so much on the players. Sikiru is our first penalty taker, but he had to allow the captain to take the penalty. I don’t want to call it fear; maybe at that point he had to relax and let someone else take the responsibility.
“I feel the pressure of the boys; the fewer the games, the harder the games are becoming and it’s expected.
“At this point, I need to be more relaxed and more calm.”
With 11 games to go this season, Remo Stars’ next assignment is a trip to Benin to face a rejuvenated Bendel Insurance.
The NPFL leaders will be missing the services of their captain, Junior Nduka, who was sent off in their last game, but Ogunmodede feels they have enough firepower to get the desired result.
“We are left with 33 points to fight for and we are going for every point and being without our captain for the next game, it’s just one man out of the registered players. For sure, his influence is massive in the group, but no player is indispensable,” the coach said.
Remo Stars are in the running for their first NPFL title, having missed out in the last two seasons.
They missed out on the 2023 title on goal difference when Enyimba won their ninth title while Rangers International beat them to the title last season.
