Rivers United, Rangers, Ikorodu City lead chase for CAF tickets as Remo Stars inch close to first title

The battle for the 2024/25 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) crown is almost over with Remo Stars having established an eight-point lead in the race for the title.

After stuttering in Benin where they lost to Bendel Insurance in Week 28, Remo Stars returned to Ikenne at the weekend to hammer Heartland of Owerri 2-0. The win took their points haul to 57, eight points better than second-placed Rivers United, who are on 49 points.

Third-placed defending champions, Enugu Rangers, are on 45 points, same with Ikorodu City, who are fourth on inferior goals difference, while Abia Warriors are fifth on 45 points.

Remo Stars are almost certain to crown their campaign with the league trophy, as it would take a heavy loss of form and games to give any of the lurking teams an opportunity to overtake them on the table.

However, the battle for the remaining African inter-club competitions’ slots are still wide open with any of the second to eight-placed teams capable of finishing second and third at the end of the season.

The second-placed team will join Remo Stars in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, while the third-placed team will play in the CAF Confederation Cup. So, Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars, who are on 43 points each and are placed sixth and seventh respectively, as well as Enyimba (eighth position) can still nick any of the tickets if results go their way.

Resurging Enyimba, who are on a four-game streak without a loss, were almost running away with an away victory over Ikorodu City on Sunday in Lagos before a 98th minute equaliser split the points between the two teams.

But Rivers United did not allow any late surge to dampen their joy in Maiduguri, where they defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 2-1 to keep their continental