Sports
Remo Stars Fingered In Match-Fixing Scandal
A potential match-fixing scandal is set to rock the Ogun State football following a bizarre penalty shootout involving Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL campaigners, Remo Stars and Ijebu United FC.
Both teams were involved in the Ogun State FA Cup final on Thursday in which the regulation ended 0-0 and the match moved into penalty shootout.
In the ensuing penalty kick, Remo Stars missed all their kicks while Ijebu United scored their first three to emerge winners with 3-0 scoreline.
However, a moment of worry which triggered a potential match-fixing scenario occurred when the last penalty taker for the Sky Blues Stars strangely kicked the ball to his left hand side, tens of meters away from the goal post.
The 16 minute video of the penalty kick which has gone viral on social media has provoked reactions from football enthusiasts with many calling on the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) to investigate the match and bring perpetrators to book.
Credible sources within the Ogun State football said Remo Stars technical crew allegedly instructed their players not to score any of their penalty kicks in protest to what the club called “bad officiating” by the centre referee.
Reacting to the development, the Media Officer of Remo Stars, Mr Oladimeji Oshode said the situation was “nothing,” stressing that it was their way of protesting perceived “bad officiating” against them.
Responding via telephone interview, Mr Oshode said “Nothing really to say. Just a means of showing our displeasure on the pitch of play at the weekend. That’s all, nothing more.
“The officiating is bad so we decided to use that to show our displeasure at what the match officials were doing,” he concluded.
Calls put across to the Chairman of the Ogun State Football Association, Mr Ganiyu Majekodunmi to get his comment were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls put to his two phone numbers by our correspondent.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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