Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) has secured a return to continental football for the first time in 27 years after finishing among the top three teams in the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, marking a major milestone in the club’s resurgence.
The achievement was celebrated by the club’s Executive Chairman, Taiwo Lekan-Salami, who described the qualification as a restoration of the club’s pride and a significant step toward reclaiming its status as one of Africa’s respected football institutions.
In an official statement released following the conclusion of the season, Lekan-Salami said the continental ticket represented more than a qualification for African competition, calling it “a statement of resurgence, a restoration of belief, and a reaffirmation of our collective determination to return this great institution to its rightful place in African football.”
The chairman, who was appointed on July 5, 2025, by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, reflected on the challenges facing the club when he assumed office and outlined the reforms that have driven the team’s revival.
According to him, the administration embarked on a transformation programme anchored on three strategic pillars: re-engineering, restructuring, and repositioning the club. The initiative focused on modernising the club’s operations, strengthening governance structures, and improving football performance.
Among the key reforms implemented was the restructuring of the club’s management system. The former general manager role was split into the positions of chief operating officer and sporting director to enhance efficiency and accountability. A dedicated media lead was also appointed to improve communication, fan engagement, and the club’s digital presence.
On the football side, the club assembled a new technical team led by Head Coach Idowu Aweroro. The technical department was expanded to include specialists such as a performance analyst, sports psychologist, and strength and conditioning coach, introducing a more scientific and data-driven approach to player development and team performance.
Lekan-Salami credited the reforms for the club’s improved results, noting that enhanced player welfare, fitness, tactical organisation and performance management contributed significantly to the successful campaign.
While celebrating the achievement, the chairman emphasized that the success was a collective effort involving the Oyo State government, club management, technical staff, players, sponsors, partners, media practitioners, and supporters.
He reserved special praise for the club’s supporters, describing them as one of the most passionate fan bases in Nigerian football. He acknowledged their unwavering loyalty during difficult periods and credited their support as a key factor in the club’s resurgence.
Qualification for continental football is not the destination; it is only the beginning of a new chapter,” Lekan-Salami stated, adding that the club’s leadership remains committed to strengthening its structures and building a team capable of competing consistently for domestic and continental honours.
The chairman also revealed that preparations for continental competition and the upcoming season are already underway. He said the club would soon unveil details of its strategic plans as part of the next phase of its transformation agenda.
The qualification marks one of the most significant achievements in recent history for the Ibadan-based club, rekindling hopes among supporters that the Oluyole Warriors can once again establish themselves among the elite teams on the African continent.
With continental football now secured, attention turns to how Shooting Stars will build on their momentum and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead on both the domestic and international stage.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
