FORMER champions Kano Pillars put a dent in the title ambitions of Rivers United on Friday, beating them 2-0 in Kano, and in the process, handed Remo Stars the advantage to claim their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League title with three games to spare, Saturday PUNCH reports.
Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa and veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali scored two second half goals to get the job done for the four-time champions, who have also moved within reach of a CAF Confederation Cup spot.
The match-day 35 game, a potential title decider, attracted interests beyond Kano and Port Harcourt, and fans in Ikenne-Remo would have thought their title challenge would take some more time when the first half ended goalless.
Musa, however, broke the deadlock in the 63rd before Ali doubled the advantage from the spot in the 75th minute for his 12th goal of the season.
The result left Rivers United on 58 points, currently seven points behind Remo who now need a win against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday to claim their first-ever NPFL title.
If they beat Tornadoes on Sunday, Remo Stars will extend their lead at the top to 10 unassailable points with only nine points left to play for in the remaining three games of the season.
Anything short of a win will revive Rivers’ faint hopes in the title race.
Daniel Ogunmodede’s side have toiled in the Nigerian topflight in the last two seasons, finishing second behind Enyimba on goal difference in 2023 before losing the title to Enugu Rangers last season.
