Shooting Stars technical adviser Nurudeen Aweroro has praised his players after their 3-1 victory over Enugu Rangers in Ibadan, describing the performance as one of the team’s best against a difficult opponent. Aweroro said his side stayed disciplined in defence and still found a way to score three times against a Rangers team he said had recently been hard to break down.
Coach points to resilience
Aweroro framed the win around mentality as much as tactics. Reflecting on the result, he said Shooting Stars had faced a strong side but remained alert at the back and kept pushing until the chances came. He added that the players lived up to the “warriors” label the team carries.
His key message was simple: the team did not fold when the game became demanding. That reaction matters because this was not a soft fixture. Rangers came in as one of the league’s major names, and Shooting Stars needed both control and conviction to get through it.
How the game turned
After a quiet first half, Sodiq Ibrahim gave Shooting Stars the lead early in the second period. Rangers responded through captain Chidiebere Nwobodo, but the hosts quickly took charge again. Desmond Ojietefian restored the lead before Adams Mustapha added a late third to seal the win in Ibadan.
The result continued Shooting Stars’ strong home form. Premium Times reported that the win made it seven straight home victories for the Ibadan club and lifted them to fifth on the NPFL table with 50 points.
Why the reaction matters
The scoreline matters, but the bigger midday angle is what Aweroro’s response says about his team. He wanted the result framed as proof of resilience, defensive concentration, and belief under pressure.
For Shooting Stars, that matters in the run-in. A home win over Rangers is the kind of result that strengthens confidence and keeps larger ambitions alive. This is supported by the club’s position in the table and the strength of the opponent they beat.
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