Ali Kandil Joins Shooting Stars SC Technical Crew Ahead of NPFL Second Stanza

Shooting Stars SC have appointed Ali Kandil to their technical crew as part of preparations for the second stanza of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season. Kandil, an Egyptian coach with experience in Nigerian football, joins the Oluyole Warriors’ backroom team to support head coach Gbenga Ogunbote as the club seeks improved results after an inconsistent first half of the campaign.

The move adds international coaching expertise to Shooting Stars’ setup, with Kandil expected to contribute to tactical planning, training sessions and match‑day preparations as the team looks to climb the NPFL standings in the run‑in. His appointment comes amid broader squad and staff adjustments at the club as they aim to build continuity and momentum ahead of key fixtures.

Editorial

In football’s ever‑evolving tapestry, the figures who stand at the touchline often shape a club’s narrative as much as those on the pitch. The arrival of Ali Kandil to the Shooting Stars SC technical crew is an appointment that speaks not only to tactical intent but to the club’s broader quest for stability, coherence and renewal as the NPFL second stanza looms.

Kandil’s reputation — forged through experience across African leagues and previous stints in Nigeria offers Shooting Stars both familiarity and fresh perspective. In a league that frequently demands adaptability and nuance, the addition of an international coach to complement head coach Gbenga Ogunbote suggests a club determined to blend local identity with tactical breadth. This is not cosmetic augmentation it is strategic reinforcement at a moment where margins are thin and momentum is critical.

Shooting Stars enter the second phase of the season with ambitions that resonate beyond mere survival. They seek structure in their play, consistency in results and moments of creative clarity that turn draws into victories and narrow deficits into comeback stories. Kandil’s role will be to help engineer these transformations not by imposing dramatic overhaul, but by refining what already exists sharpening shape, diversifying patterns of play, and instilling a collective resilience that can withstand both the physical demands and psychological pressures of NPFL campaigns.

History shows that mid‑season appointments carry risk and reward in equal measure. Yet here, there is a sense that the move is calibrated rather than reactionary a measured step toward a club ethos that prizes both tradition and evolution. In Kano and Ibadan, Warri and Lagos, fans will watch and wait as Kandil’s influence unfolds on training grounds and in game‑day choices. In a league where tactical nuance often arrives quietly, the true impact of this appointment will be revealed not in press releases but in points earned and progress achieved.

Did You Know?

1. Ali Kandil has previously coached in the NPFL, giving him valuable insight into the tactical demands of Nigerian top‑flight football.
2. Shooting Stars SC are one of Nigeria’s oldest and most decorated clubs, with a storied history that includes multiple league titles and continental competition appearances.
3. The NPFL second stanza often sees increased tactical intensity as teams jostle for continental qualification places and fight to avoid relegation.
4. Technical crew additions mid‑season are a common strategy in Nigerian football, as clubs look to refresh ideas and sustain performance.
5. Shooting Stars SC’s home ground is the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, known for its passionate support and lively atmosphere.