Summary
Remo Stars Sports Club and Rivers United Football Club shared the spoils at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta to kick start the Nigeria Premier Football League 2025/2026 season —former player, Okon Aniekeme pierced the hearts of his former teammates in the 3rd minutes before returnee Victor Mbaoma levelled up for the home team away from home.
After an 88-day break from top-flight Nigerian club football, the Nigeria Premier Football League made a thrilling return for the 2025/2026 season with a captivating clash between last season’s top two sides at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta — hosting its first NPFL match in over a decade.
Remo Stars with 9 players —in the Super Eagles team to the Championship of Africa Nations which they crashed out from in the group stage —had little time to rest since their return from Zanzibar, two days ago before setting out to face Rivers United in today’s game —gave a good fight to secure a valuable point at home.
Aniekeme Bites Former Teammates
It took the away team just three minutes to set the game on the right tempo. Taofeek Otaniyi danced towards the goal on the outside left, cut in and sent in a cross that met Okon’s head —the latter bent his head well to connect the ball and beat the Remo Stars wall to give Rivers United the lead in the third minute of the game.
The Response —Mbaoma announces Return
Six minutes later, Samuel Alakwe set Mbaoma through with a defence-splitting pass, and the striker wasted no time to slot past an onrushing Osagie Onisodumeya to level things up for the Sky Blues — he celebrated wildly.
The Contest
The game became balanced and both sides activated the caution gear until the 20th minute when Remo Stars was denied by the woodwork —Michael Ibe was presented a chance to put the home team in the lead from a set piece but he saw his attempt denied by the woodwork.
Remo Stars made an unexpected substitution when Adama Goita was thrown into the fray for injured Victor Mbaoma in the 21st minute.
Remo Stars continued the push for a lead with more pressure on the Pride of Rivers, and almost got the goal in the 40th minute through a corner kick —Tochukwu’s square beat the towering defenders of the opponents, but Samuel’s header went inches over the bar.
The reigning champions picked it from where they left it in the first half and had a beautiful moment between Adedayo Olamilekan and Abubakar Ibrahim with a beautiful exchange of passes to set up Adama Goita, but Rivers United were uptight at the back to fend off the beautiful artistry display in the 55th minute.
Rivers United made double substitutions in the 66th minute to get back into the game they chased for a larger part of with Wasiu Falolu and Omaka Anthony taking the places of Seyi Oguntayo and Taofeek Otaniyi.
Samuel Anakwe dazzled in the space of 10 minutes to give the Abeokuta fans something to cheer with an effort that went wide in the 60th minute and a defence-splitting pass to Alex Oyowah in the 70th minute, but the former Riverbut it deflects and we have a corner kick.
Game Climaxes
Rivers United made double substitutions in the 77th minute when Samson Obi and Chinedu Sunday replaced Timothy Zachariah and goal scorer, Okon Aniekeme
Daniel Ogunmodede, in the 85th minute, made three substitutions to gear up his team’s quest for a lead — Joseph Abah, Haruna Hadi and Samson Olasupo went in for Chaka Coulibaly, captain Junior Nduka and Adama Goita.
Temple Emekayi of Rivers United received a match penalty in the 94th minute for dangerous play.
What’s Next?
Rivers United will be at home to Kwara United while Remo Stars will travel to newly promoted Khun-Khalifat in Owerri on Sunday, August 31st.
Meanwhile, the remaining 9 matches of match day 1 will take place across centres on Sunday August 24th.