The Oluyole Warriors have won only two of their last six NPFL games, but a 4-1 win over Abia Warriors has lifted spirits before Sunday’s clash with Barau FC.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Shooting Stars forward Lucky Emmanuel has promised supporters that the Oluyole Warriors will turn their form around. The Ibadan club have come under pressure after winning just two of their last six Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) games, and Emmanuel wants to calm the nerves.
The forward says the squad understands the frustration of the fans. He insisted that the players are committed to correcting the mistakes behind the recent dip in results.
The next chance to prove it comes on Sunday, November 8, when 3SC face Barau FC at 4pm in Matchday 12. A win would give the club a morale boost and a platform to build on.
“The players are determined to fight for the badge.”
Emmanuel added that he wants the team to maintain consistent form across the league, and that the squad will do everything to deliver a positive result this weekend.
Signs Of Recovery
There are reasons for optimism. Shooting Stars thrashed Abia Warriors 4-1 at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Sunday, November 1, with Sodiq Ibrahim scoring twice in the first half. The win took them to 15 points from 11 matches, and new Bet9ja users can look at the YOHAIG Bet9ja launch offer before the next round.
Emmanuel has already left his mark this season. He scored the first goal of the 2026/27 campaign, in the 15th minute of the 2-1 opening day win over newcomers Inter Lagos in Ibadan.
The table also gives 3SC hope. Four clubs, Rivers United, Rangers International, Bendel Insurance and Kano Pillars, are level on 18 points at the top, so Shooting Stars are only three points behind that group.
Barau Await
Barau FC will not be easy opponents. They held Rangers to a 2-2 draw on October 11 after leading 2-1, and they have shown they can compete with the best teams in the league. Fans who follow the Oluyole Warriors can check the Bet9ja promotion for weekend NPFL games before kick-off.
The match carries weight for both clubs. With so many sides separated by only a few points, one win can change the mood in a squad and lift a team several places.
For 3SC, the key word is consistency. Two wins in six games has left supporters restless, and Emmanuel’s message is aimed at easing that frustration.
It will be a busy weekend across the NPFL, with most Matchday 12 games kicking off at 4pm on Sunday. Fans who like to forecast results can try Super9ja’s NPFL score challenge alongside the fixtures.
Emmanuel has promised a fight, and the Oluyole Warriors’ supporters will expect to see it from the first whistle. A strong result against Barau would show that the recovery is real.
📌 Did You Know?
- Shooting Stars are nicknamed the Oluyole Warriors, and they play their home games at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan.
- Lucky Emmanuel scored the first goal of the 2026/27 NPFL season, in a 2-1 win over Inter Lagos on opening day.
- Matchday 11 produced 20 goals across eight matches, and Shooting Stars’ 4-1 win was the biggest victory of the round.
- Rivers United, Rangers, Bendel Insurance and Kano Pillars were all level on 18 points at the top after Matchday 11.
- Abia Warriors beat Shooting Stars 2-0 on March 8, 2026, before 3SC’s 4-1 win last weekend.
