3SC Set Sights on Strong NPFL Start, CAF Confederation Cup Run

Posted : 28 August 2026

Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan are heading into the 2026/2027 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season with renewed confidence, as the club combines strengthened commercial backing with preparations for its CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

Club Chairman, Taiwo Lekan-Salami, said the management had used the three-month off-season to adequately prepare for what promises to be a demanding domestic and continental campaign.

Speaking in Ibadan ahead of Friday’s NPFL opener against Inter Lagos at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Lekan-Salami said expectations were high among the management, players, supporters and other stakeholders.

“We’ve been off-season for a while, going to three months now. We’ve had enough time to plan and prepare, so the expectations are high for the new league season,” he said.

The chairman also revealed that the club had attracted new commercial partners, including Bovas Oil and Gas Company and Chowdeck, a powered delivery platform, to strengthen its operations during the season.

According to him, the club’s immediate objective is to begin the new campaign on a positive note, particularly after losing its opening league fixture last season.

He described Friday’s encounter with Inter Lagos as one of the standout fixtures of the opening weekend and expressed confidence that 3SC would secure all three points.

“We intend to win, we expect to win and to win well so that we can boost our confidence ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup game,” Lekan-Salami said.

Abeokuta Base for Continental Assignment

As part of preparations for the CAF Confederation Cup, 3SC spent eight days in Abeokuta, where the club is expected to play its continental home fixture.

Lekan-Salami explained that the camping exercise was designed to familiarise the players with the playing surface and environment while also building local support ahead of the continental encounter.

The chairman also disclosed what he described as a major development in the club’s long-term plans — a partnership with Spanish LaLiga club Real Valladolid.

He said the agreement would provide opportunities for coaching exchanges, exposure to modern training methods and greater development of the club’s academy.

Under the partnership, four or five 3SC academy players are expected to visit the Real Valladolid Academy annually.

“It’s a dream come true for me personally because that is one of the things that I really wanted to achieve on this seat,” he said.

Lekan-Salami added that the impact of the partnership would become more visible in the coming months as both clubs begin to implement the development programmes.

Yusuf Targets Continuity and Improvement

Meanwhile, newly appointed Technical Adviser, Salisu Yusuf, has set his sights on maintaining 3SC’s presence in continental football while improving the quality of the team’s performances.

The experienced tactician, who has coached the Super Eagles and U-23 national team, said his experience with clubs and national teams would help him manage the demands of the new assignment.

Yusuf said he would retain 3SC’s traditional 4-3-3 formation but focus on improving the team’s effectiveness both in possession and when defending.

Acknowledging the difficulty of opening-day fixtures, he said all teams usually enter the first game physically prepared and highly motivated.

However, the coach insisted that 3SC’s priority would be to secure maximum points against Inter Lagos.

Yusuf expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by the players during his initial eight days with the team, predicting that sustained hard work would quickly transform the squad into a stronger unit.

“From what I have seen so far, it will not take long before the players become a great team. We’re going to work very hard to achieve our objectives,” he said.

With commercial support growing, an international academy partnership secured and a new technical team in place, 3SC will now look to translate its off-season preparations into results when the new NPFL campaign begins on Friday.

3SC Set Sights on Strong NPFL Start, CAF Confederation Cup Run

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