Remo Stars, Insurance on the brink as hope fades for Sunshine Stars

Unless they win their last two games of the ongoing Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) Championship Play-off, Bendel Insurance and Remo Stars may not qualify to represent Nigeria next season in any CAF inter-club competition.

Bendel Insurance ended the abridged NPFL 2022/23 season unbeaten and were tipped to either win the Super Six play-off or at the least, get a continental ticket due to their fine form going into the play-off. The Benin Arsenal went through the regular season unbeaten home and away.

Remo Stars were also tipped for great things at the play-off due to the way they ran up the Group A ladder during the regular season. Apart from that, they boast one of the best welfare packages of all the teams in the league.

But things have not worked well for these teams as they only boast three points apiece from three matches. Insurance started with a goalless draw with Lobi Stars on Saturday, played a 2-2 draw with Sunshine Stars on Monday and were held to a 1-1 draw yesterday by Enyimba. That leaves them on three points from three games with a zero goals difference.

They need to win their two remaining games and hope that Enyimba and Remo Stars do not win or draw any more game to finish among the three best teams of the competition.

Insurance’s next two games are against Rivers United and Remo Stars. Remo Stars are also on the same boat with three points from three games and a zero goals difference.

They started with a 2-2 draw with Enyimba, another 2-2 draw with Rivers United and a 1-1 draw with Sunshine Stars. However, they have a ‘better’ run in as their last two games are against Lobi Stars and Insurance. Their job is specific, beat Insurance and Lobi Stars and get a continental ticket.

Enyimba, yesterday, inched closer to a continental ticket with their 1-1 draw with Insurance taking them to five points. They need a win and a draw to be sure of a CAF Champions League ticket. A win and one loss can also fetch them a Confederation Cup ticket since they will be up to eight points, which could see them ending in the third position.

Sunshine Stars’ hope of qualifying for the continent is all but gone after three games.

The Akure-based team have two points from a possible nine and will need to win their last two matches and hope the other results favour them.
Sunshine Stars started with a 0-1 loss to Rivers United, held Insurance to a 1-1 draw and also played out a 1-1 draw with Remo Stars yesterday.
Their next games are against Enyimba and Lobi Stars, which they must win to rekindle their dream of playing in the continent.