Shooting Stars SC — the Oluyole Warriors of Ibadan — are one of Nigerian football’s oldest and proudest clubs. Here is everything you need to know about 3SC in the 2025/26 NPFL season.
Shooting Stars Sports Club — known to Nigerian football fans everywhere as 3SC or the Oluyole Warriors — are one of the oldest and most storied clubs in West African football. From their origins in 1956 in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, through to their continental triumph as 1976 African Cup of Nations Club Championship winners, 3SC have long been a name that commands respect across the continent. That history sits proudly alongside a fanbase that remains one of the most passionate and knowledgeable in Nigerian domestic football.
The 2025/26 NPFL campaign has brought a fresh start under new head coach Nurudeen Aweroro, who arrived with clear ideas about how Shooting Stars should play and a commitment to restoring the club to its rightful place in the top half of the NPFL table. This club hub is updated regularly with current form, results, fixtures, coaching updates, key players, stadium information, and betting analysis for Shooting Stars SC. Come back before every matchday.
Shooting Stars SC go into the final stretch of the 2025/26 NPFL season in a mid-table position. Under Nurudeen Aweroro, the Oluyole Warriors have established a consistent playing identity that, while not delivering top-four football, has given the club a platform to build from heading into 2026/27.
The season has been a learning curve under the new head coach, who replaced the veteran Gbenga Ogunbote following a management overhaul. Aweroro — who previously led Ikorodu City to a fourth-place finish — has brought a possession-based approach to the Lekan Salami Stadium that has taken time for the squad to absorb fully. The club’s results in the second half of the season have reflected a team growing into its new identity.
Shooting Stars are confirmed safe from relegation, and their final day (Matchday 38, May 24) sees them host Sunshine Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium — a fixture they will want to win in front of their supporters to round off the campaign positively.
Current NPFL 2025/26 Standing (as of Matchday 37):
– Position: ~9th–12th
– Points: ~45–48 (estimated)
– Status: Safe (mid-table)
1. Shooting Stars 1-0 Barau (Matchday 37 — Home Win)
A narrow but important home win that demonstrated Shooting Stars’ ability to grind out results at the Lekan Salami Stadium when they need to. The crowd made the difference, generating the kind of atmosphere that gives the Oluyole Warriors a genuine home advantage. The win confirmed their mid-table status with dignity intact.
2. Rivers United 3-0 Shooting Stars (Away Defeat — Matchday 34)
A heavy loss at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium against one of the division’s strongest sides. Rivers United’s pace and directness overwhelmed Shooting Stars on this occasion. While the scoreline was painful, it came against a club fighting for the NPFL title, and Aweroro used the experience as a reference point for the tactical adjustments needed in the final weeks of the season.
3. Shooting Stars 2-1 Katsina United (Home Win — Matchday 33)
An encouraging home performance where Shooting Stars’ possession-based approach came together effectively. Adekunle’s creative play unlocked Katsina’s defence on multiple occasions, and Christian Pyagbara’s direct running from the left wing caused consistent problems. The 2-1 win showed what 3SC are capable of when their system clicks in front of their own supporters.
4. El-Kanemi Warriors 1-1 Shooting Stars (Away Draw — Matchday 32)
A point in Maiduguri is never easy. El-Kanemi Warriors are physically demanding opponents and the journey north adds logistical challenges that can affect performance. Shooting Stars held their nerve to earn a share of the spoils, demonstrating the resilience Aweroro has been developing in his squad.
5. Shooting Stars 0-0 Nasarawa United (Home Draw — Matchday 31)
A goalless draw at home that frustrated the Lekan Salami faithful. Shooting Stars dominated possession — as they frequently do — but were unable to convert their chances. This has been a recurring theme: the possession numbers are encouraging, but final third execution has cost the Oluyole Warriors points across the season.
Form string (most recent last): D – D – W – L – W
Matchday 38 (Season Finale):
Shooting Stars SC vs Sunshine Stars
📅 Sunday May 24, 2026 | ⏱️ 4pm Nigerian time | 🏟️ Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan
Shooting Stars host Sunshine Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium on the final day of the 2025/26 NPFL season. This is a fixture between two mid-table sides with no major stakes on the day, though both clubs — and their supporters — will want to end the campaign on a positive note.
Sunshine Stars, from Akure in Ondo State, are fellow mid-table occupants and familiar opponents for the Oluyole Warriors. The Lekan Salami Stadium crowd will be in expectant mood, and Aweroro will be looking for a performance that showcases the playing identity he has been building — attractive, possession-based football culminating in a comfortable home win.
For bettors, this is the kind of final-day fixture between two safe, relaxed sides where goals markets and BTTS carry good value — neither team has significant motivation to be overly cautious.
Nurudeen Aweroro arrived at Shooting Stars SC ahead of the 2025/26 season as a coach with a clear reputation in Nigerian football. His most notable previous achievement was leading Ikorodu City to a fourth-place finish in the NPFL — a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted club — and that success convinced the Shooting Stars board that he was the right man to replace the experienced but departing Gbenga Ogunbote.
Aweroro’s tactical philosophy is built around ball possession, pressing without the ball, and creating overloads in wide areas. He wants 3SC to be a team that controls matches through movement and tempo, rather than sitting deep and relying on counter-attacks. It is an ambitious approach for NPFL football, where physical directness often wins, but Aweroro has been gradually imposing his ideas on the squad.
The challenge for the 2025/26 season has been giving the players enough time to absorb the system while also delivering results. There have been moments where the approach has been beautiful to watch — and moments where the inability to turn possession into goals has been a source of genuine frustration. Aweroro’s management of those tensions, and his ability to retain the confidence of the club’s demanding fanbase, will define whether this project continues to grow in 2026/27.
He has spoken about his admiration for the club’s history and his desire to restore 3SC to the continent — a reference to the 1976 African Cup of Nations Club Championship that remains the high point of the club’s continental ambitions.
Christian Pyagbara — Left Winger
The most exciting individual talent in the Shooting Stars squad. Pyagbara’s dribbling ability, close control, and comfort taking on defenders one-on-one have made him the Oluyole Warriors’ chief creative spark in the 2025/26 campaign. His tendency to cut inside from the left and shoot, or drive into the penalty area and draw defenders before releasing a teammate, gives 3SC an attacking dimension that opponents find genuinely uncomfortable. He is the player most likely to create a goal from nothing.
Adekunle — Attacking Midfielder / Second Striker
The squad’s top assist provider this season, Adekunle has been the link between Shooting Stars’ possessional midfield and their forward line. His awareness, movement in tight spaces, and willingness to press defenders high up the pitch embody the way Aweroro wants his team to play. Four assists this season puts him among the division’s better creative midfielders, and his importance to the system is underlined by how much Shooting Stars miss him when he is not on form.
Kabiru — Midfielder
The second-most effective assist provider in the squad with two contributions, Kabiru adds physicality and technical quality in equal measure to the Shooting Stars engine room. He helps bridge the gap between the possession-based approach Aweroro demands and the physical realities of NPFL football, and has been one of the more consistent performers across the season.
Ayodele — Forward / Winger
Provides energy, assist production, and direct running in the forward areas. Ayodele has worked effectively as a complement to Pyagbara’s creativity, giving Shooting Stars the option to play with pace in behind opposition defences as well as through intricate combination play. A useful and underrated contributor across the campaign.
Shooting Stars SC play their home matches at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan — one of the oldest and most storied football grounds in Nigerian history. The stadium is named after Mr Lekan Salami, a pioneer of Nigerian sports administration, and sits in the heart of Ibadan, Nigeria’s most populous city by area and the cultural capital of Yorubaland.
The ground has a capacity of approximately 25,000 and on big matchdays — particularly for derbies involving clubs from the Southwest or visits from NPFL heavyweights — it generates an atmosphere that draws on decades of footballing tradition. The Lekan Salami faithful are knowledgeable supporters who expect their team to play attractive football, and they make their feelings known clearly when the standard drops.
Ibadan is easily accessible by road from Lagos (approximately two hours) and by rail via the Ibadan train station. The stadium is in the Adamasingba area of the city, and transport links by road are generally reliable on matchdays. Arriving early for major fixtures is advisable, as the area around the stadium fills quickly.
The ground has hosted Super Eagles matches in the past and meets reasonable standards for Nigerian domestic competition. Pitch quality can vary depending on the time of year and recent usage, but the stadium’s location and history make it one of the more atmospheric venues in the NPFL.
Shooting Stars Sports Club were founded in 1956 in Ibadan, making them one of the oldest professional football clubs in Nigeria and West Africa. The club’s origins lie in the rich sporting culture of Ibadan, a city that has produced footballers, administrators, and coaches who have shaped Nigerian football at every level.
Their greatest moment of continental glory came in 1976, when Shooting Stars won the African Cup of Nations Club Championship — a prestigious continental competition that pre-dated the modern CAF Champions League format. That victory placed 3SC among the genuine pioneers of West African football and remains the standard against which all subsequent seasons are measured.
In domestic football, Shooting Stars have won the Nigerian league title on three occasions, with additional Federation Cup victories reflecting their historical consistency at the national level. Their rivalry with Ibadan-based neighbours and their long history of producing players for the Super Eagles gives them a connectivity to Nigerian football’s national story that few clubs can match.
The names associated with Shooting Stars across the decades read like a who’s who of Nigerian football talent. The club has always had a reputation for developing technically gifted players — a tradition Aweroro’s possession-based philosophy is designed to continue.
Full Honours List:
– NPFL/Nigerian League Titles: 3
– African Cup of Nations Club Championship: 1 (1976)
– Federation Cup: Multiple
Betting on Shooting Stars SC in 2025/26 requires an appreciation of a team still learning a new system. Their results have been mixed, but certain patterns have emerged that are worth understanding.
Possession without goals: Shooting Stars regularly dominate possession but have struggled to translate that dominance into goals consistently. This means the Under 2.5 goals market has had reasonable returns in their matches — particularly at home — as opponents often absorb their pressure without conceding, while 3SC fail to break the deadlock through quality rather than quantity of possession.
Home advantage: At the Lekan Salami Stadium, Shooting Stars have been competitive and have won their fair share of points. The crowd pushes them forward, and in games against mid-table or lower opposition, backing them to win at odds between 1.70 and 1.90 has returned reasonably.
Away struggles: Away from Ibadan, Shooting Stars have been less reliable. The heavy defeat at Rivers United reflects a vulnerability when facing physically direct opponents away from home. Backing opponents in Asian Handicap markets against Shooting Stars away from the Lekan Salami has been a useful angle.
Final day vs Sunshine Stars: For the season finale (home vs Sunshine Stars, May 24), both teams are safe and relatively relaxed. An open game with both teams motivated to perform is likely. BTTS — Yes and Over 2.5 goals are reasonable market choices for a low-stakes, end-of-season encounter between two similar mid-table sides.
For NPFL odds comparisons, see our Nigerian Bookmaker Reviews for the best betting platforms covering domestic football.
Responsible gambling: Betting should be for entertainment only. Only bet what you can afford to lose.
Shooting Stars SC close out the 2025/26 season as a club with a clear identity and a building project worth following. Aweroro’s system is taking shape, the squad has quality in the creative areas, and the Lekan Salami Stadium remains one of the NPFL’s most atmospheric venues.
The goal for 2026/27 must be a top-six challenge. The possession-based approach needs better conversion rates to take the next step, and recruitment in the striker position — someone capable of finishing the chances that Pyagbara and Adekunle create — is the most pressing off-season requirement.
The club’s history demands more than mid-table respectability. But the direction of travel is positive, and Nigerian football fans with an interest in watching an ambitious NPFL side build toward something genuine should keep Shooting Stars SC on their radar.
For the latest Shooting Stars results and NPFL news, stay with NigerianMatchday. See our full NPFL 2025/26 Fixtures and Table for the complete picture.
