Shooting Stars secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Plateau United at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Sunday, marking their third consecutive win in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The Oluyole Warriors’ victory was capped by a stoppage-time header from Ismail Ayodele, a strike that not only secured all three points but also reinforced the team’s recent winning momentum in the league.
Governor Makinde applauds Shooting Stars’ resilience
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde was in attendance to witness the thrilling encounter firsthand, joining fans in celebrating the hard-fought win.
Impressed by the team’s performance, Governor Makinde rewarded the squad with $5,000 (7 million naira), highlighting the growing role of state leaders in promoting domestic football.
His support mirrors the recent engagement of other Nigerian governors, such as Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, who made headlines as the first sitting governor to attend an NPFL match, showing up for Bayelsa United’s opening home fixture of the 2025/26 season at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
Diri witnessed his side’s 2–0 victory over Barau FC, which came on the heels of an impressive away win against Shooting Stars.
Following the game, he challenged the players to push for the league’s summit and a continental ticket, rewarding them with ₦2 million for their bright start and pledging to gift the team a new coaster bus if they keep up their fine form.
Before Abia State’s Alex Otti attended Enyimba FC’s 3-2 victory over Bendel Insurance and rewarded the team ₦30 million, rewarding strong performances across the league.
Shooting Stars find form after early setbacks
The victory against Plateau United reflects a remarkable turnaround for Shooting Stars this season.
Their campaign started with a home defeat to Bayelsa United, followed by two 1-1 draws with Bendel Insurance and Ikorodu City.
Another setback came with an away loss at Rivers United, but the team has now responded with three consecutive victories, climbing to fifth place on the NPFL table with 11 points.
Just in front of their state governor, Ismail Ayodele delivered the decisive blow in stoppage time to make sure the Ibadan warlords maintained their three-game unbeaten run.
The Oluyole Warriors will now carry this confidence and form into the next fixtures against yet another struggling northern side, Kano Pillars.
“I feel so good about the win. I salute the performance of the boys. We want to concentrate on our winning mentality.” Coach Aweroro of 3SC said.
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