The concluding fixtures of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season saw Remo Stars and Enyimba seal their spots in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions next season, as Sporting Lagos got relegated from the league in their debut season.
First-half goals from Sodiq Ismail and Dayo Ojo were enough for Remo to defeat Katsina United whose only response was a 76th-minute strike from Michael Ibe in Ikenne. The victory ensured the Sky Blue Stars finished second to secure a spot in the CAF Champions League as Nigeria’s second representative after champions Rangers International who defeated Gombe United earlier to end their season on a high.
Enyimba beat Shooting Stars to the
CAF Confederation Cup spot following a 2-0 win over Plateau United in Aba. The season’s last South West Derby saw the Oluloye Warriors defeat Sporting 1-0 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
While the victory sealed the Oluloye Warriors’ 10th consecutive home victory, it condemned the Noisy Lagosians to Nigeria’s second division league in their first season in the NPFL. They join Doma United, Gombe United and Heartland FC whose relegation had been confirmed in the previous Matchdays.
Other results saw Bayelsa United defeat Bendel Insurance away at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, while Akwa shocked Rivers United 3-1 to secure their third victory over the Port Harcourt-based team in 12 NPFL trials.
Already relegated Doma United held Abia Warriors to a 1-1 draw at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe. Niger Tornadoes were 2-1 victors over Sunshine Stars, as Kano Pillars outwitted Lobi Stars 3-2 at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
The biggest winners of the NPFL 23/24 last Matchday were Kwara United who saw Heartland off with an empathic 4-0 victory at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
The winner between Abia and El-Kanemi Warriors in the FA Cup final will join Enyimba as Nigeria’s second representative in the CAF Confederation Cup ahead of r next season.
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