2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 26: Warriors’ Resilience Deepens Remo Stars’ Crisis

Posted : 16 February 2026

Defending champions Remo Stars continued their alarming slide in the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League as spirited Abia Warriors forced them to a 1-1 draw in a tense Match Day 26 encounter at the Akure Township Stadium.

With a stadium ban denying them the comfort of their traditional home ground, the Sky Blue Stars once again looked like a shadow of the title-winning side that dazzled last season. Instead, it was the visitors from Aba who played with greater conviction, structure, and attacking purpose.

Warriors strike first — and almost twice more

After a cagey first half where both teams cancelled each other out, the contest burst into life in the second period.

In the 55th minute, a precise long delivery from Suraj Lawal inside the Warriors’ defensive third found Chukwuemeka Obioma. The experienced striker showed strength and composure, shrugging off his marker before calmly slotting home his seventh league goal of the season to hand the visitors a deserved lead.

Obioma thought he had doubled the advantage ten minutes later. Latching onto a swift counter, he drove into the danger area and unleashed a shot that beat goalkeeper Obaise Adebiyi — only for the assistant referee’s flag to deny him, ruling the effort offside.

Moments later, controversy struck again. Another lightning break saw Obioma tee up Valentine Ugwu, who finished confidently, but once more the assistant referee signalled offside, sparking frustration among the travelling bench and spectators alike.

Champions respond, but questions remain

Despite riding their luck, Remo Stars found a way back in the 77th minute. Samson Olasupo reacted quickest to a rebound inside the box to restore parity and momentarily lift the home faithful in Akure.

Yet even after equalising, the champions never truly imposed themselves.

Valentine Ugwu squandered a golden opportunity in the 85th minute to restore Abia Warriors’ lead, while youngster Omoge Ebenezer twice opted for personal glory instead of better team options in promising positions.

For Remo Stars, the point felt more like survival than revival.

A worrying trend for the champions

The draw stretches Remo Stars’ winless streak to five matches and leaves them precariously placed in 19th position with 27 points from 26 matches — eight wins, three draws, and 15 defeats.

From champions to relegation battlers within a season, the contrast is stark.

Assistant coach Sulaiman Folarin, who stood in as head coach, admitted disappointment but insisted the club will avoid the drop.

“We have not been winning in the last five or six matches. We thought we would win this match, but we could not.

However, we will take the positives until we get it right. I know we will get it right, and we will not be relegated.
We will fight to keep our Premier League status.”

Confidence remains in the camp — but results must soon follow.

What’s next?

Abia Warriors return home for a Match Day 27 clash against Kwara United FC at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, looking to build on a performance that arguably deserved more than a point.

For Remo Stars, however, time is running out. The defending champions are no longer chasing glory — they are fighting for survival.

2025/2026 NPFL Match Day 26: Warriors’ Resilience Deepens Remo Stars’ Crisis

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