Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Remo Stars have booked their place in the next round of the CAF Champions League after edging US Zilimadjou 1-0 at the M.K.O. Abiola International Stadium on Friday evening.
The narrow home victory sealed a 5-0 aggregate win for the Sky Blue Stars, who will now face South African heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns in the second preliminary round of the continental competition.
Remo Stars finish the job after first-leg rout
The Ikenne side came into the second leg with a commanding 4-0 lead from the first leg in Moroni, their biggest-ever victory in continental football and the largest margin by any Nigerian club in Africa since 2022.
Despite their advantage, the return leg in Abeokuta proved to be a far more stubborn contest.
Both sides battled through a tense, goalless first half as the visitors from Comoros defended well to limit the NPFL champions’ attacking rhythm.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 73rd minute. A dangerous cross from Ibrahim Abubakar forced a handball in the Zilimadjou box, and forward Alex Oyowah stepped up with confidence, slotting his penalty straight down the middle to put the game beyond reach.
A statement win and a bigger test ahead
The result shows Remo Stars are fully ready for more continental battles, and Head Coach Daniel Ogunmodede will be encouraged by the team’s composure over two legs and their ability to grind out a result without conceding.
Attention now turns to the next round, where the Sky Blue Stars will face a much sterner test against Mamelodi Sundowns, one of Africa’s most accomplished sides.
The tie promises to be a major milestone in Remo Stars’ continental journey and a chance to measure themselves against elite opposition.
Before that, the Ogunmodede side will return to domestic action in the NPFL, resuming league duties with a fixture against Abia Warriors on Nigeria’s Independence Day — a test of their depth as they juggle local and continental commitments.
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