Defending champions Remo Stars relied on the brilliance of Samson Olasupo once again, as his 77th-minute goal sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Warri Wolves in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 3 clash at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta.
Wolves Start Brightly
Riding on the momentum of two consecutive wins, Warri Wolves started on the front foot. They carved out an early opening from a free kick, only to see the effort sail over the bar.
Just before the interval, Wolves nearly broke the deadlock through a dangerous cross that striker No. 18 failed to convert, followed by a captain’s long-range strike that was awkwardly dealt with by Remo goalkeeper Sabitu.
Their first real chance arrived in the 20th minute when Ibrahim Abubakar’s inviting cross was met by Chigozie’s header, which narrowly missed the target. Moments later, Olamilekan Adedayo’s incisive through ball freed Samuel Anakwe, whose clever lob rattled the underside of the bar before bouncing safely for goalkeeper Vincent Edafe.
Second Half: Olasupo Introduced
The second period began with Remo Stars showing greater urgency. In the 48th minute, Adedayo drove into Wolves’ half and won a free kick, but Oshidero’s strike was comfortably saved by Edafe.
Stand-in Head Coach Sulaiman Kamil made changes soon after, introducing Samson Olasupo for Shuaibu Ibrahim and Haruna Hadi for injured defender Ebuka. The substitutions tilted momentum in Remo’s favour.
Hadi immediately made an impact in the 57th minute when he latched onto Adedayo’s pass, only for his goal-bound strike to be deflected wide. From the resulting corner, Chigozie’s header was inadvertently blocked on the line by teammate Alex Oyowah.
Olasupo Delivers the Breakthrough
Despite Remo’s pressure, Wolves had their own golden chance in the 67th minute, breaking 3v3 against the hosts, but their finishing let them down.
That miss would prove costly. In the 77th minute, Haruna Hadi slipped a clever through ball into the path of Samson Olasupo, who showed composure beyond his years with a cool finish past Edafe to hand Remo Stars the lead.
Nervy Finish in Abeokuta
Warri Wolves refused to give up and came close to equalising in the 84th minute when a long throw caused chaos in the box. The resulting header was destined for the net but cleared off the line at the last moment.
The closing minutes saw the visitors pile forward in search of an equaliser, but the Remo defence held firm to protect their slim advantage.
Champions Find Their Rhythm
The victory marked Remo Stars first maximum points at their adopted home ground in Abeokuta, easing early-season pressure on the champions. For Warri Wolves, it was a reminder of the fine margins at the top level, as they paid dearly for missed chances.
Once again, it was Samson Olasupo the Impact sub who made the difference, his knack for decisive goals keeping Remo Stars title defence firmly on track.
