Remo Stars made history on Sunday having won the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title for the first time in their history.

The Sky Blue Stars defeated Niger Tornadoes courtesy of a late goal by Adebayo Olamilekan, becoming the first privately-owned club since Udoji United in 1996 to be crowned champions.

They achieved the feat on the 59th birthday of their owner, Kunle Soname, a businessman with interests ranging from aviation to the gaming industry.

They have now amassed an unassailable 68 points from 35 matches, 10 points clear of their closest rivals Rivers United, with three rounds of matches remaining this season.

They had finished as runners-up in the league in the past two seasons.Founded 15 years ago as FC Dender in Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos, the club moved to neighbouring Ogun State and rebranded as Remo Stars in 2011.

The club will now represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League along with this season’s eventual runners-up, while the third-placed team will feature in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Manchester City will face Crystal Palace in their third successive FA Cup final after cruising to a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s side took an early lead through Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol’s second-half goal sealed a comfortable semi-final success.

City can look forward to a showdown with Palace at Wembley on May 17 after the Eagles won 3-0 against

Aston Villa in the other semi-final on Saturday.Their 14th FA Cup final appearance gives City a chance to win the competition for the eighth time and the third since Guardiola arrived in 2016.

City lost to Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final after beating their cross-town rivals in the 2023 showpiece.

Guardiola is hoping to salvage a turbulent season by lifting the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top-five finish in the Premier League. City, who sit fourth in the league with four games left, will go into the final as favorites after thrashing Palace 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in April.

Enugu State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Lloyd Ekweremmadu (C), with the Torch of Unity in Enugu.

Enugu State governor, Peter Mbah, has received the National Sports Festival’s Torch of Unity, while promising full participation of the state’s contingents in the forthcoming event, scheduled to hold in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The festival will hold from May 16th – 30th in Abeokuta, Ogun State, located in South-Western Nigeria.

Mbah, who was represented by Lloyd Ekweremmadu, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, commended the initiators of the festival, saying it had created a bond of unity among Nigerians.

The governor said that through the Sports Festival, many talents have been discovered to represent Nigeria in various international competitions across the world.

“Sports is a unifying factor and a veritable tool to identifying talents. Since its formation in 1971, the festival has been a successful initiative.

“I am assuring you that Enugu State contingents will participate fully in Ogun 2025,” he said.

(VON)