Exclusive: The NPFL hit another low as host turned sports into a do or die affair in Katsina, leaving the visitors and match officials at their mercy

The Nigeria Professional Football League hit another low on Sunday, as Katsina United command their way to the three points rather than play to earn it.

The matchday 35 fixture at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina saw South West side, Remo Stars take on the home side, Katsina United.

Starting the Gameweek in the dropzone, the host were desperate of a win to see them move up to 45 points on the log and subsequently out of the relegation zone.

They did make a good start to the game and established a 2-0 lead as early as the 28th minute thanks to Tosin Omoyele's double.

However, Remo Stars, who are looking to get a foothold on third will not be easily put away and four minutes before the hour mark, Sikiru Alimi pulled one back at 2-1.

One minute into the two added time, Alhameen Adegbite restored parity for the visitors, to the disappointment of the home side, who were adamant in their protest that the goal should be disallowed.

However, replay shows the goal was correctly awarded. Even at that, the Katsina United players and fans were not satisfied and the match continued until they eventually net a controversial winner.

In an exclusive interview with Remo Stars winger, Samuel Anakwe, who came on in the second half of the match, he explained what ordeal himself, teammates and staff of Remo Stars endured in the North West.

Speaking to Kehinde Hassan Afolabi, the winger said: “We played until the 90th minute whilst they were ahead 2-1 and few moments after the fourth official signalled two minutes will be added, we scored an equaliser, knowing there's few seconds left to play.”

“Immediately the goal went in, they (players, staff and fans of Katsina United) started attacking the assistant referee that he should have raised the flag for offside.”

This is the goal Katsina United wanted the officials to rule out for offside

To the support of the referee and his assistant, there was no chance the goal was offside and replay showed the lineman was right not to raise the flag.

Anakwe continued: “They (players, staff and fans of Katsina United) started threatening the referee, his assistants and we the players (of Remo Stars) that they will be killed if the game ended that way (at 2-2) for over 20 minutes or so.”

“So they made a plan that the game should continue as there was no certainty anyone from the opposing side (Remo Stars) and the officials will leave the venue alive should it end in a draw.”

“The game was allowed to continue and they after sometime, they scored an offside goal but the referee obviously was forced to award it. We left at full time but it's football, we try again another day.”

”They damaged a lot of things and also beat our cinematographer and make away with some of their instruments.” he added.

In the entire history of modern football, 42 minutes is the longest added time played and that was because the lighting on the field was not activated in the derby between Shabab Khanyounis and Ittihad Khanyounis in 2021.

Sikiru Alimi finishing off a scintillating team move to half the deficit.

The game between Katsina United and Remo Stars dragged on for 36 minutes of added time, after the result demanded by the host was achieved.

It is another unwanted scene for a league that has shown much improvement this season but the League Management Company will be sure to look into that misconduct.

Remo Stars keep their place in third following Enyimba, Kwara United and Enugu Rangers' failure to win in their respective games while Katsina United move out of the dropzone with the win.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi