Ikorodu in more relegation worries after draw with 3SC

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) held Ikorodu United FC to a 1-1 draw in their Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 30 clash at the Onikan Stadium, but the game was later abandoned on the stroke of 90 minutes due to crowd trouble.

Chinedu Onyelonu put the Oga Boys in front 25 minutes into the match, which put the Lagos team in good position against the visitors in the South-West derby clash. But when it looked like the hosts was going to snatch the victory, Ajani Ibrahim rose to the occasion by providing the equalizer late in the 89th minute for the Oluyole Warlords.

After scoring the goal, the Lagos fans were not comfortable with the decision, which necessitated the referee to later abandoned on the stroke of regulation time, because of crowd trouble. Ikorodu United currently occupy 19th position on the log with 18 points from 25 matches, while 3SC are in 16th position with 36 points from 27 matches in the league.

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NPFL WEEK 29 REVIEW: SHOOTING STARS VS SUNSHINE STARS ( Sunshine Stars won 2-1 in the First meeting )

By Chinedu Laurel Okorodike  
Follow me on Twitter via @laureldpundit
and Instagram via @laureldpundit


Coach Gbenga Ogunbote will be hoping for an impressive performance from his lads, reminiscent in their 3-1 win over Niger Tornadoes at the Lekan Salami Stadium. The Oluyole Warriors were very impressive as they blew their opponents away by racing into a three goal lead in the first half but they'll face a more daunting task when they host Sunshine Stars.

The Akure Gunners may have lost their last away game came in their shambolic performance in Lafia when they were hammered 3-0. But they bounced back to defeat Rivers United 1-0 courtesy of a stunning goal from leading talisman, Dele Olorundare. 

A repeat of their insipid and lethargic performance in Lafia could see them suffer another defeat as 3SC will be fired up to put in another good performance as they seek to pull clear of the relegation zone. This'll be a very tight game but might tilt towards the host to edge it.

Shooting Stars statistic 

They are currently placed seventeen on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 10 wins from 26 matches played so far.

They have lost eleven times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL

They have won just one away game in the NPFL which was against MFM played on 19th of June, 2016. 

They have conceded 10 goals while playing at home this season and a whooping 30 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest win this season was defeating MFM 3-0 at home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Kano Pillars 6-0 away from home.

They have failed to score in seven away games and one home game this season.

Shooting Stars last five matches

Sunshine Stars statistic 

They are currently placed sixth on the NPFL table.

They have picked up 10 wins from 25 matches played so far.

They have lost five times so far in their away matches this season in the NPFL 

They have lost just once at home this season which was 1-0 loss to Kano Pillars 

They have won just one away game in the NPFL which was against MFM.

They have conceded 22 goals while playing at home this season and 9 goals while playing away from home.

Their biggest loss this season was losing to Nasarawa United 3-0 away from home

Their biggest win this season was defeating Nasarawa 3-0 at home.

They have failed to score in eight away games and one home game this season.

Shooting Stars last five matches

My Prediction: Shooting Stars 1-0 Sunshine Stars.

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Breaking News; Rivers United defeats Shooting Star 3-2 on Penalty.Through to quarterfinal.

Rivers United defeated Shooting Stars of Ibadan 3-2 via penalties in a federation Cup round of 16 game. Full match report to follow soon

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Gbenga Ogunbote return oils Shooting stars engine as they win 3-0

Coach Gbenga Ogunbote returned Sunday to Shooting Stars in fine style when he led the team to only their sixth win of the season as they dumped Akwa United 3-0.

A brace from Adetunji Sunday and a goal from Ajani Ibrahim were enough to see Ogunbote start his second spell in Ibadan with an emphatic win.

‘The Oluyole Warriors’ showed their intent as early as the 12th minute, when left-back Yinka Adedeji let fly a thunderous effort from range, which could have given them the lead, but forced a fantastic save from United goalkeeper, Akpan Bassey.

But it didn’t take long however, for Shooting to go in front, as Ajani Ibrahim’s sublime cross was met by Adetunji Ibrahim, who powered home a beautiful header past the stranded Bassey for their opening goal.

That was only five minutes after they had threatened to go ahead.

Shooting kept pressing the ‘Promise Keepers’, much to the delight of the fans at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

United were not without chances of their own, but nothing came of them, as Shooting Stars remained resolute in their determination to stem their slide on the table.

And shortly before the break, Ajani Ibrahim turned from provider to goal-scorer as he finished off a delightful move from the home side to send their fans to wild eruption, and also maintain their advantage as they went into the break.

United must have hoped to start the second half with a goal to half the deficit, but they got a yellow card instead when goalkeeper Bassey cautioned for what he said to the referee.

And while, the tenacity from both sides seemed to have faded a bit in the second half, Shooting Stars were still in cruise control as they dictated the tempo of the game, with United struggling to come to grips with their quick passing.

And on the hour mark, ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ scored again - Adetunji Sunday nicely controlled a pass, went past some United defenders before toe-poking into the goal for his brace and Shooting’s third of the evening. 

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Gbenga Ogunbote may join Shooting Stars.

Coach Gbenga Ogunbote is believed to now be in pole position to replace Kadiri Ikhana, who has quit his post at troubled Shooting Stars.

Last season, Ogunbote joined ‘The Oluyole Warriors’ mid-season and helped rescue them from relegation.

He has a lot of backing from the influential Shooting Stars fans, who hope he will come back to salvage the embattled club who languish in 18th place on the table with 17 points.

Some of the fans hope Ogunbote could join their darling team as early as this week, when his current club Giwa FC are most likely to be expelled from the league should they fail to honour a third game of the season.

“Ogunbote is best favoured to return to Shooting Stars. Majority of the fans back his return, they believe he can turn the fortunes of the club around, like he did last season.

Ikhana is widely believed to have thrown in the towel because of a raging cold war with general manager Rasheed Balogun. 

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