“We are in serious trouble” – Ogunmodede admits after Remo’s draw with Rivers United in NPFL opener

Remo Stars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede believes his side have a target on their back due to their status as the defending champions of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Professional Football League season, Footynaija.com reports.

Ogunmodede watched his team kick off their NPFL title defense with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against last season’s runners-up Rivers United at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta on Friday.

The game enjoyed a lightning-fast start with both teams finding the back of the net before the ten minutes mark. Rivers United went ahead through Aniekeme Okon before Remo Stars’ new recruit Victor Mbaoma leveled matters almost immediately.

Speaking after the game, Ogunmodede highlighted Remo Stars status as champions and went on to explain that every other team in the league will be relishing the opportunity to make life difficult for his team.

“Every team wants a piece of the champions,” Ogunmodede said in quotes revealed by Premium Times.

“We know we are champions and we are in serious trouble, a serious mess because everybody wants to come up against the champions.

“We know what is at stake, we are not playing our home ground, not an excuse but, vis a vis, this is football, we stay hungry.”

Remo Stars have relocated from their traditional Ikenne based home ground for the time being due to ongoing renovation works on the Stadium. The Moshood Abiola Stadium will serve as the new venue for their home games but for Ogunmodede, there’s no place like home.

“This is football and spectators are very important. Familiar ground is important. Even if it is Barcelona playing outside their home ground, there will always be a difference.

“Psychologically it will always have an effect. But like I said, it is not an excuse. We’ve played outside our ground and we won games, and we’ve played on our home ground in Ikenne and we drew. 

“It doesn’t mean if we play there, we will win. But it is another advantage for us. We miss our fans.”

Remo Stars will return to action on Sunday, August 31 when they pay a visit to NPFL newsboys Kun Khalifat on matchday two.