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The Nigeria Professional Football League is a league of shifting fortunes, and Shooting Stars (3SC) have just shown why they remain one of Nigeria’s most fascinating clubs to watch and support. After surviving a difficult away draw in Kano, the Oluyole Warriors returned home to Ibadan and delivered a statement win. A big 2-0 win against high-flying Abia Warriors.
Just a week earlier, Shooting Stars had been tested to their limits at the Sani Abacha stadium. A 1-1 draw with Kano Pillars was marred by crowd trouble, forcing the players to show grit and composure under hostile conditions.
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Fast forward to Matchday 9, and the mood was entirely different. At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Shooting Stars rediscovered their form. Abiodun Ayobami’s first-half strike set the tone, before super-sub Qamar Adegoke sealed the 2-0 win with a late goal.
The result did not only extend their unbeaten run to five matches, it also shot them into second place in the NPFL table, breathing down the necks of leaders Nasarawa United, who are four points clear.
Shooting Stars have shown to be a team evolving and growing in character. The game in Kano proved they could survive adversity, while the game a week after in Ibadan proved they could play good football and dominate another title contender.
That balance of resilience and flair is exactly what separates mid-table teams from genuine title challengers. These are key elements to win the top division of Nigerian football.
The victory over Abia Warriors was more than just three points; it was a symbolic passing of momentum. Abia had been one of the season’s surprise packages, but Shooting Stars showed they could not only match them but also outclass them.
“Our boys showed character in Kano, and today they showed quality,” coach Nurudeen Aweroro said after the Abia Warriors win. “This is the balance we need if we want to compete at the very top.”
For Sporting Director Tobi Adepoju, the victory over Abia Warriors was more than three points; it was validation of a new era. “This is the kind of resilience and ambition we want to define Shooting Stars,” he said, pointing to the club’s long-term vision of returning to continental football.
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With the NPFL table tightening, every fixture now feels like a mini-final. If 3SC can maintain this form, continental football, and even a title charge may no longer be a dream but a realistic target.
For Ibadan football fans, the last two weeks was a reminder of the club’s heritage as one of Nigeria’s great footballing institutions. Their passionate fans sang into the night long after the final whistle. A sign that belief is back in full force.
Shooting Stars’ season is beginning to feel like a story of transformation and purpose. From the chaos of Kano to the triumph over Abia Warriors, they have shown they can grind out results in difficult circumstances and venues. They have also showed that when the moment is right, they could strike with authority. If they continue with this momentum, albeit, early in the season, they might be set for their first league title since 1998.
