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By: Abiodun Adewale
Remo Stars striker, Sikiru Alimi, has admitted he misses the partnership of injured Togolese striker, Frank Mawuena, saying his absence has affected the team upfront, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Mawuena has been missing in action for about six months undergoing surgery for an injury he sustained in their 3-2 loss against Akwa United in Eket on November 19, 2023.
Alimi, who scored his first league goal in 2024 on match-day 29 is second in the Nigeria Premier Football League goal chart, with his 12 goals placing him a place behind leader and Enyimba striker, Chijioke Mbaoma, who has scored 13 goals.
When asked who his preferred strike partner upfront is, Alimi said, “I will say, Frank, the Togolese striker. Since he has been missing, we have been finding it difficult upfront in terms of connection in the build-up.
“We are following up with his progress and very soon he will be back.”
During their 2-0 win over Lobi Stars last December, Alimi celebrated his 10th goal of the season by holding up the Togolese striker’s jersey, who went under the knife a few days before the game.
Alimi rejoined Remo before the start of the season and made a bright start with 11 goals and two assists between October and December 2024.
He was primed for the highest goal scorer award in the NPFL this season and also tipped to break the long-standing 23-goal in-one-season record set by Mfon Udoh in 2014, but the former Sunshine Stars and 3SC man seemed to have slowed down in 2024.
The 28-year-old has scored only once this year and that was in their 2-1 win against Akwa United in Ikenne on match-day 29. His last goal before then was against Heartland in December 2023.
He, however, said he was more focused on the team’s achievement this season.
“Honestly, I don’t have a set target, I just want to keep improving with each game and helping the team to achieve their target,” Alimi said.
Before his injury, Mawuena, who joined the club in 2022 had scored two goals in seven appearances.
