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Boluwaji Sholumade has been named NPFL Player of the Week for Matchday 32 after scoring a dramatic late winner that breathed new life into Rivers United’s title aspirations. The 22 year old defender, formerly of Akwa United and Sunshine Stars, powered home an 84th-minute header to seal a crucial 1-0 victory over league leaders Remo Stars.
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In what was a high stakes top of the table encounter, Sholumade’s decisive moment ensured Rivers United claimed all three points, narrowing Remo Stars’ lead at the summit to five points. With six rounds of matches left in the season, and Remo Stars still holding a game in hand, the title race remains wide open.
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Sholumade, a former Flying Eagles centre back, is known for his defensive tenacity and willingness to . Sunday’s goal was his first of the season and may yet prove one of the most important of his career.
Editorial
Boluwaji Sholumade’s winner against Remo Stars wasn’t just a goal it was a lifeline. In the cauldron of NPFL football, where pressure often silences quality, Sholumade rose literally and figuratively to revive a fading title challenge. Moments like these are what define seasons and shape champions.
We often celebrate strikers for match-defining goals, but defenders like Sholumade remind us that heroes can emerge from any part of the pitch. His presence in the opposition box late in the game shows ambition, his finish showed composure, and the aftermath has shifted momentum in the league.
This is the kind of leadership and clutch performance that Rivers United, and indeed Nigerian football, desperately need. Beyond the points, this was a psychological blow to Remo Stars a message that the race is far from over. With only a handful of games left, every header, tackle, and minute will count.
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We hope this becomes a defining stretch for Sholumade. He has shown he can deliver in big games. Now, the challenge is to do it consistently and perhaps, inspire his team to one of the league’s most thrilling comebacks in recent memory.
Did You Know?
Boluwaji Sholumade previously represented Nigeria at the U20 level during the 2021 Africa U20 Cup of Nations.
Rivers United won the NPFL title in the 2021/2022 season, their first-ever top-flight championship.
Sholumade began his professional career at Sunshine Stars, known for producing several NPFL stars.
He is one of the few defenders in the NPFL this season to have contributed directly to a [match-winning goal](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/category/news/national-team-news/) in the final 10 minutes of a game.
Remo Stars, despite being league leaders, have suffered just three defeats all season—one of which came at the hands of Rivers United.