With a game to the close of Shooting Stars Sports Club’s campaign in the Bet9ja Nigeria National League (NNL), the team secured crucial points against Warri Wolves on Wednesday at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
The Oluyole Warriors defeated Warri Wolves 2-1.
Nurudeen Sanni opened scoring in the seventh minute of the game before Warri Wolves striker, Jonathan Ebule equalised for the away team in the 52nd minute.
The crucial goal that separated both teams was scored by Olawale Mutiu in the 62nd minute. Mutiu had come on for captain Ayobami Junior in the 55th minute of the game.
Shooting Stars were relegated from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to the lower division last season. With Wednesday’s result, 3SC remain top of the abridged Bet9ja NNL Group B1 with 28 points from 15 matches.
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Their last match in the nine-club league will be against Bendel Insurance in Benin City on Saturday. Insurance are second on 24 points from 14 matches and only the first two clubs in the four abridged leagues will be involved in a Super 8 league to determine the four clubs that will gain promotion to the elite NPFL.
Speaking after the match, the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Barrister Abayomi Oke expressed his delight at the result, saying the team’s chances for a return to the NPFL are very bright.
Also, 3SC coach, Edith Agoye said he’s happy about the result just as he said it has helped them on the log.
“We knew the ability of Warri Wolves because they always beat us whenever they visit us in Ibadan and that’s why we put in our best.
“With a game to go, we know what it at stake and we must get points,” he said.
While reacting on the outcome of the match, Warri Wolves coach, George Emeniete, lambasted the centre referee for what he saw as bad officiating.
He said “the referee stopped me from getting points here in Ibadan as 3SC are desperate to win and qualify which is killing Nigerian football.
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“You would will recall that 3SC came to Warri and beat us and my fans them applauded for a good performance. I expected same hospitality here today but reverse is the case.”