Remo Stars and Kwara United will play their upcoming continental matches at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Remo Stars, who are Nigeria’s reigning Premier League champions, will host US Zilimadjou of Comoros in both legs of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie in Abeokuta, after renovations at their home ground in Ikenne rendered it unavailable.
Meanwhile, Kwara United, the 2025 Nigeria Federation Cup winners, were denied CAF approval for their Ilorin-based stadium. As a result, they will stage their CAF Confederation Cup home leg against Ghana’s Asante Kotoko at the MKO Abiola facility.
Editorial
We view the decision to relocate continental ties to Abeokuta as both a logistical necessity and an opportunity. While losing home-ground familiarity can be a disadvantage, the MKO Abiola Sports Arena offers a neutral but familiar Nigerian setting that could reduce travel strain and maintain domestic support. The move underscores the broader infrastructural challenges facing Nigerian clubs but it also highlights their adaptability in the face of them.
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For Remo Stars, playing in Ikenne during renovations would have risked safety or comfort relocating shows prudence. For Kwara United, the relocation is more stark. They will not only be playing away from home, but in a venue that, while local, lacks the intimate atmosphere of the Ilorin complex. Still, preserving the single-leg home identity even in a different city could carry psychological advantages over playing in a completely foreign setting.
Yet, there are risks. Fan turnout in Abeokuta may fluctuate, potentially affecting atmosphere and revenue. The pitch condition, crowd behaviour, and local logistics all have the potential to influence matchday performance. Clubs will need to replicate their routines as much as possible pre-match preparations, warm-ups, and travel plans to make this new ground feel like home.
We believe that success in those preparations could turn what appears externally as a disadvantage into a competitive edge. If Remo Stars and Kwara United can treat Abeokuta as a temporary fortress, they could arrive at their continental fixtures mentally sharp, community-supported, and ready to perform.
Did You Know?
- The MKO Abiola Sports Arena is located in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and is named after the late Nigerian politician and philanthropist, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.
- Remo Stars won the 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League, qualifying them for the CAF Champions League.
- Kwara United clinched their first-ever Nigeria Federation Cup in 2025, earning a Confederation Cup slot.
- The MKO Abiola Arena has previously hosted NPFL matches and national events but has not been a traditional CAF approved venue for continental club fixtures.
- Remo Stars will face US Zilimadjou of Comoros in both legs of their CAF preliminary tie, while Kwara United will host Asante Kotoko at Abeokuta after playing the first leg away.
