NPFL 2025/26: Champions Remo Stars held by Rivers United in opening-day stalemate

The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season kicked off under the floodlights of the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Abeokuta, on Friday night with all the drama befitting an opening-day spectacle.

Defending champions Remo Stars, forced to vacate their Ikenne fortress due to ongoing renovations, were held to a gritty 1-1 draw by Rivers United in a clash that mixed pride with frustration for both sides.

It took just three minutes for the visitors to shock the champions. Ironically, it was Remo old boy Aniekeme Okon — one of the shortest men on the pitch — who rose highest to head home the season’s very first goal and silence the Sky Blue Stars’ supporters.

But the champions responded swiftly; within six minutes, returning forward Victor Mbaoma, now in his third stint at the club, restored parity with a debut strike.

His joy was short-lived, however, as injury forced him off before the half-time whistle, leaving coach Daniel Ogunmodede with a fresh headache.

Finidi George: “It was a 50-50 encounter”

For Rivers United coach Finidi George, the contest was always likely to be bruising.

“It was a good game. A good boost. But the game was too rough. We had two yellow cards, which limited us in pushing forward. I’d say it was a 50-50 encounter. If you look at the overall chances, they came from us. On the road, a point is really great. It motivates us for the next game.”

Despite the solid start, Finidi admitted his side lacked composure in the final third.

“In some moments we had penetrative passes where my players should have been calmer, but we were too much in a hurry and didn’t hit the target. In a game like this, you don’t get many chances, so you have to take the few you create.”

The former Enyimba boss also highlighted the balancing act of managing expectations against the champions.

“When you come to a game like this, you want maximum points. But Remo are the defending champions, even if they’re away from Ikenne. We gave them a hard fight, but one costly mistake gave them the equaliser. That’s football. We’ll learn and look ahead.”

National team returnees tested

The encounter also carried added intrigue as both teams featured several players returning from the Super Eagles B camp after CHAN 2024.

Finidi explained his decision to field all three of his returning internationals from the start.

“Remo had a lot of their players back, so we had to match them. My players couldn’t say they were tired while theirs were ready to play. Luckily, two completed the game. Now they’ll get some rest.”

Road ahead

The draw means Rivers United extend their remarkable record of not losing an NPFL season opener in over a decade.

More importantly, it offered Finidi a platform to build belief and momentum for the long campaign ahead.

For Remo Stars, the night was a sharp reminder that defending a crown comes with added pressure, a point may not have been the ideal start, but their title defence is already shaping up to be fiercely tested.