Nurudeen Aweroro says he saw his Shooting Stars exit coming, even after steering the Oluyole Warriors back into CAF continental football for the first time in 27 years.
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Former Shooting Stars head coach Nurudeen Aweroro has spoken publicly for the first time about his departure from the Ibadan club, saying he had anticipated the parting of ways well before it was confirmed, Complete Sports reports.
Shooting Stars announced last week that they had mutually agreed to end their working relationship with Aweroro, along with team manager Tammy Tamuno and assistant coach Shakiru Lawal. Speaking to Prime FM, Aweroro said the chairman’s approach did not come as a shock. He said he was told the club felt he would not be able to meet the demands of competing in the NPFL and in continental competition, and that he accepted the decision.
A Difficult Year Behind The Results
Aweroro reflected on the pressure that came with managing one of Nigeria’s most historic clubs. He said he was allowed to bring in his own backroom staff when he arrived, including Tamuno as team manager, but that friction grew as the season progressed, with reported threats over results and disagreements about team selection. He said he chose to stay focused on his targets rather than let the internal tension affect his work.
Notably, Aweroro’s only season in charge ended with Shooting Stars finishing third in the NPFL and securing a return to CAF continental football for the first time in 27 years, a landmark result for the club.
Why He Left Ikorodu City
Aweroro also addressed his earlier move away from Ikorodu City, where he had taken charge mid-season and guided the club to a fourth place finish in its debut NPFL campaign. He said that exit was a personal decision, driven by friction with the club’s then technical director, Bright Ozebagbe, whom he felt was overstepping into coaching decisions that should have been his to make. He said he had already begun planning his exit and asked his team manager to circulate his CV before the Shooting Stars offer arrived.
📌 Did You Know?
- Shooting Stars’ return to CAF continental football under Aweroro ended a 27 year absence from the continental stage for the Ibadan club.
- The Oluyole Warriors’ home ground, the Lekan Salami Stadium, is named after the family of the club’s current chairman, Taiwo Lekan Salami.
- Before joining Shooting Stars, Aweroro built his coaching reputation at Ikorodu City, where his side scored the most goals in the league (60) in their debut NPFL campaign.
- Aweroro is a CAF-licensed coach who also has previous experience at Remo Stars and MFM FC earlier in his career.
- He took over at Ikorodu City mid-season after the club were struggling near the relegation zone, and turned them into one of the league’s most entertaining sides.
- Aweroro replaced veteran coach Gbenga Ogunbote, nicknamed “Oracle,” when he was appointed Shooting Stars head coach in July 2025.
- Despite the abrupt ending, Aweroro’s single season in Ibadan is regarded as one of Shooting Stars’ most significant campaigns in recent years.
