Mawuena’s Magic Ignites Ikenne, Remo Stars Shine Bright in Thrilling Comeback

By: Ogunleye Oluwapelumi

Remo Stars hosted Rivers United in a rescheduled match on Monday, May 6th, 2024, at Ikenne, and the game started on a sour note as Rivers United took the lead through a penalty kick by Andy Okpe in the first half. However, the introduction of Kwame Mawuena, who returned from a five-month injury layoff, proved to be the game-changer for Remo Stars.

Mawuena’s impact was immediate, as he provided an assist for the equalizer and then scored a header to send the Ikenne crowd into raptures. His impressive performance earned him the Man of the Match award, and Remo Stars claimed the maximum three points from the match.

The win keeps Remo Stars hot on the heels of Rangers in the NPFL title race, with just one point separating them and six games left to play. The intensity of the title race is palpable, and Remo Stars will be looking to maintain their momentum in their upcoming matches.

Rivers United, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from this disappointment when they face Kwara United and Sunshine Stars in their next two matches. The team will need to regroup and refocus if they are to salvage their season and make a push for the top spots in the NPFL standings.

In a post-match interview, Remo Stars’ coach Dan Ogunmodede praised his team’s resilience and mentality, saying: “We played against one of the best teams in the NPFL. This is because we know what they are capable of, and this match proves it. But we saw what the guys did, coming from behind to win the game. It’s indeed a good mentality.

“Mawuena’s importance cannot be overemphasized. He’s been out for over five months, and he came back today to give an assist and also the winning goal; that means a lot. The focus still remains for us, and we will keep pushing and fighting till the end of the season.” He added.