Despite sitting eight points behind leaders Remo Stars, 3SC coach Gbenga Ogunbote is confident the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League title race is far from over, The PUNCH reports.
Shooting Stars missed the chance to close down the gap on Remo on Sunday, after surrendering their lead against Plateau United in Jos, while Remo had won an away game against Sunshine Stars to solidify their grip at the summit of the table.
Kabir Tijani handed Ogunbote’s side the lead in the 76th minute before Albert Hilary equalised two minutes later for a share of the spoils at the New Jos Stadium.
Although he expressed disappointment over their 1-1 in Jos, Ogunbote is perhaps buoyed by the possibility of closing the gap on the leaders, having played one game less this season.
When asked about their title chances after the draw, the experienced gaffer said, “I think we have 17 games to determine that, so nobody has won it, nobody has lost it. Every team in the premiership league has an equal chance of winning it”, Ogunbote said via ACL Sports.
“It is quite unfortunate that we couldn’t manage the goal. It was a result of a loss of concentration. It was an error on our part. If we had taken the advantage, maybe it would have been a different ball game, but be it as it may, one point on the road by this time is something.
“It was a big setback for us because we had such an opportunity against a big club like Plateau United, but sometimes, it’s like that, all we need to do is go back to the drawing board and make corrections.”
“It would have been suicidal if we had conceded the second goal. They (Plateau United) showed a killer instinct, you saw the way they came on us, we were careless, they scored, and they fought to get the second goal,” Ogunbote added.
Shooting Stars will host Bendel Insurance in their next league outing at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan next weekend.
Remo Stars lead the NPFL table with 45 points and they are followed by 3SC in second place with 37 points.
