With Mbah Emmanuel Nnaemeka
Date: 1st September 2025 | Venue: Elephant Park, Aba | Kick-off: 4:00 PM
The Pride of Imo are coming home—or at least as close to home as circumstances allow. Kun Khalifat FC’s maiden Nigeria Premier Football League “home” fixture won’t take place in Owerri, where the Dan Anyiam Stadium remains under renovation. Instead, the newcomers will welcome defending champions Remo Stars to Aba’s Enyimba International Stadium, a ground rich with history, passion, and no shortage of footballing drama.
For Kun Khalifat, the timing could hardly be better. Their debut in Enugu ended with a hard-earned point against Rangers International—a goalless draw that felt more like a statement of intent than a cautious first step. Coach Obinna Uzoho watched his side dig in, frustrate an established powerhouse, and walk away with credibility intact. Now, he wants his players to build on that resilience and show that survival isn’t the only thing on their agenda.
The opposition, however, comes armed with pedigree. Remo Stars are not just champions; they are a side with a growing reputation for consistency and organisation. Yet they, too, enter this clash with something to prove. Their opening-day draw at home to Rivers United left fans restless, and coach Daniel Ogunmodede will demand a sharper, more ruthless performance in Aba. The absence of captain Nduka Junior, who recently completed a move to Erbil FC in Iraq, leaves a gap in their backline that Kun Khalifat will be eager to exploit.
For the NPFL newcomers, this fixture represents more than three points. Playing in Aba means stepping into one of Nigerian football’s most passionate theatres. The city breathes the game, and even though Kun Khalifat are guests here, they can expect the Aba crowd to warm to their underdog spirit. If the locals rally behind the Pride of Imo, Remo Stars may find themselves under pressure from more than just the men in red and black.
It is a fascinating contrast: the tested champions trying to reassert their dominance versus the ambitious upstarts desperate to prove they belong. Expect nerves, but also fire. Expect mistakes, but also moments of brilliance. For Kun Khalifat, this is another chance to write their name into the NPFL story. For Remo Stars, it is about restoring order after a shaky start.
When the whistle blows at 4:00 PM, Aba will host not just a game, but a clash of intent. The new boys want to shake the establishment; the champions want to remind everyone why they wear the crown.
