Match Preview
JIMOH OLOYIN WITH SHOOTING STARS: NEW SEASON, NEW ERA, SAME OLD AMBITION
Ayo Hameed
Heyyyy Shooting Stars fans across the globe!
The oldest and one of the most historic clubs in the NPFL is ready to begin another journey.
NPFL 2026/2027 season, here we come!
And who dey wait for us?
Inter Lagos.
The newly promoted boys are coming to Lekan Salami Stadium for their first taste of NPFL football, but before we face the Citizens, make we flashback small.
HOW HAVE WE STARTED IN RECENT YEARS?
2021/22: We started away against Gombe United at Pantami Stadium and it ended 0-0.
2022/23: The abridged season opener gave us a proper six-goal thriller against the Peace Boys, 3-3.
2023/24: We started with a statement, beating Plateau United 2-1.
2024/25: Another away trip, this time to Lafia against Nasarawa United, the Solid Miners, and we settled for a 1-1 draw.
2025/26: Last season, we opened at home against Bayelsa United and unfortunately lost 0-1.
So this time around…
Make we change the pattern abeg.
NEW ERA. NEW IDEAS. SAME OLUYOLE WARRIORS.
Fresh ideas.
New ideology.
New gaffer.
The old but gold Salisu Yusuf is officially in town.
And with continental ambition also on the table, the question is straightforward:
Can Salisu Yusuf’s new era conquer the NPFL and take Shooting Stars back to Africa?
No be small assignment.
PRESEASON? FORGET AM.
Yes, some preseason results no favour us.
But make we no carry preseason enter official season.
Preseason na where you test fitness, experiment with tactics, give doubtful players opportunity and discover wetin work and wetin no work.
The real work starts now.
Those mistakes wey we see for preseason?
Abeg, correct them before Matchday 1.
THE PLAYERS WEY LEAVE
To everybody wey left Shooting Stars, all the best on your new challenge.
Football na journey.
But from where I dey stand, we upgraded in every department.
The squad get depth.
The quality dey there.
Now the big question be whether this team get the tactical maturity to survive the relentless Sunday and midweek football that will come with NPFL and continental commitments.
Men dey game ooo!
INTER LAGOS NO COME TOURISM
Make we no deceive ourselves, Inter Lagos are newly promoted and will enter Lekan Salami with less pressure.
They had a fantastic NNL campaign last season, securing promotion in impressive fashion under coach Shakiru Giwa Abiodun.
Their striker Adebayo Oyedele finished as the NNL top scorer last season with 10 goals, and he could lead the line as they make their NPFL debut.
Yomi Bilyamin also showed promise during the ValueJet preseason competition.
And make we no forget two familiar faces…
Bonaventure and Jonathan.
The former 3SC connection at centre-back reportedly worked well for the Citizens last season. Keeping a good portion of their promotion-winning squad also gives them something important:
Familiar players, familiar tactics, familiar understanding.
But…
LSS no be NNL ooo.
INTER LAGOS, WELCOME TO IBADAN
Dem say newly promoted team get nothing to lose.
Correct.
But unfortunately for them, dem don choose Lekan Salami Stadium for their first NPFL lesson.
They still get 37 matches after this one to strategize.
But Sunday?
Abeg, make dem hold body.
We are not looking for a gentle introduction to the new season.
We want three points.
We want the fans behind the team.
We want the new era to start with a statement.
FINAL WORD
Shooting Stars fans, solid your mind and stay positive!
This is our year.
I dey smell trophy already…
No be the one wey Idris Animasaun dey drink o!
The Brown Roof City is ready.
The Oluyole Warriors are ready.
The fans are ready.
Bring the passion. Bring the noise. Bring the blue and white.
Then let’s give Inter Lagos a proper NPFL welcome.
Up Sootin!
Up Stars!
Lekan Salami, we are coming!
