Nurudeen Aweroro Dreams Big As Shooting Stars Of Ibadan End Continental Exile

The celebrations had barely died down in Ibadan when Shooting Stars (3SC) coach Nurudeen Aweroro turned his attention to the next challenge.

After guiding the Oluyole Warriors to a third-place finish in the 2025-2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season and securing a long-awaited return to continental football (CAF Confederation Cup), the Shooting Stars manager says there will be little time for complacency as preparations begin for life on the African stage.

For a club that has spent years trying to recapture its former glory, the achievement marks a significant turning point.

Shooting Stars finished the campaign with 60 points from 38 matches, behind champions Enugu Rangers and runners-up Rivers United, ending a prolonged absence from continental club competition and reigniting hopes among supporters that one of Nigeria’s most historic football institutions is finally on the rise again.

Reflecting on the season, coach Nurudeen Aweroro told Naija News that the qualification is a product of hard work, discipline and collective sacrifice.

“First of all, I want to thank Almighty God for seeing us through the season and making things easier for us,” said Aweroro.

“I also want to appreciate the players. They stayed committed to the job, kept their promises, and worked hard. That made things easier for us as coaches.”

The coach also credited 3SC’s leadership for creating the environment that allowed the team to succeed.

“I must also thank our chairman [Honourable Taiwo Lekan Salami]. He has been a fantastic leader and supporter. He travels with us everywhere and does everything possible to encourage both the players and the technical crew,” he said.

Continental Football Was The Goal For 3SC

From the outset of the 2025-2026 NPFL season, securing a continental ticket was the target for 3SC. According to Coach Aweroro, that objective shaped every aspect of the team’s preparations.

“We knew that qualifying for the continent would require hard work, so we doubled our efforts. We trained twice a day and pushed ourselves because we believed hard work was the only way to achieve our target.”

The results eventually justified those sacrifices. Despite operating in one of the most competitive NPFL seasons in recent years, Shooting Stars remained firmly in contention throughout the campaign before sealing third place and a return to African football.

The achievement becomes even more remarkable when viewed against the backdrop of the obstacles encountered along the way.

“Of course, there were many challenges,” Aweroro admitted.

“But I always tell myself and my players that there is no excuse for failure. Challenges are part of football, and sometimes they push you to work even harder than you originally planned.”

Rather than allowing setbacks to derail their ambitions, the coach said the team used adversity as fuel.

“We faced a lot of difficulties, but we thank God for helping us remain focused. We refused to lose concentration because of those challenges. Instead, we used them as motivation to improve and keep pushing forward.”

Aweroro identified resilience and unity as the foundations of the club’s success.

“Resilience was one of the biggest factors”, the former Ikorodu City head coach said.

“At different stages of the season, there were issues between various stakeholders, but we sat down, held meetings, and resolved them.

“I want to thank God for giving us patience, tolerance, and the ability to manage ourselves properly. There was unity within the team, and that unity played a major role in our success.”

The unity extended well beyond the dressing room. While the players delivered on the pitch, Shooting Stars supporters produced a season to remember in the stands. Their colourful displays, vocal backing and strong attendance figures helped transform the Lekan Salami Stadium into one of the most intimidating venues in the NPFL.

Their efforts did not go unnoticed. The supporters were rewarded with both the NPFL Supporters Club of the Year Award and the League Bloggers Award for Fans of the Season, recognition that demonstrated their influence during the campaign.

Shooting Stars Already Planning For The Future – Nurudeen Aweroro

With qualification secured, Shooting Stars of Ibadan had already shifted attention to the future.

Coach Nurudeen Aweroro revealed that the club will move quickly to strengthen the squad ahead of their continental campaign, with new players expected to be assessed during pre-season.

“As coaches, we’re not really going on a break,” he said. “We’ll only rest briefly before returning to work. We have invited some new players, and we need to assess them properly.

“We must identify the right players to sign because this is now a continental team.”

The club is also planning a demanding pre-season programme against some of the country’s strongest sides.

“We plan to participate in quality pre-season tournaments and play strong opposition,” he said.

“Teams like Rivers United, Abia Warriors, and other top clubs will be involved.”

Despite the excitement surrounding the club’s return to Africa, Aweroro insists his ambitions stretch beyond simply making up the numbers.

“We want to go as far as possible. We don’t want to limit ourselves because success comes from having the right mindset and commitment,” the coach said.

“If you want the best results, you must aim high. You shouldn’t allow anyone to tell you there’s a level beyond which you cannot go. With the right mentality, hard work, and commitment, you can achieve great things. That’s the approach we will take into both the continental competition and the next NPFL season.”

For the thousands of supporters who have waited years to see Shooting Stars back among Africa’s elite, those words will only heighten expectations. After a season that restored belief across Ibadan, the Oluyole Warriors are preparing for a new chapter, one they hope will take them far beyond qualification and back into continental relevance.