Top Oyo APC figure praises Shooting Stars over CAF Confederation Cup berth

Kehinde Olaosebikan, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State and former Chairman of Oluyole Local Government, has extended his congratulations to Shooting Stars Sports Club on their qualification for the 2026/2027 CAF Confederation Cup competition.

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This achievement was made possible by the club's third-place finish in the Nigeria Premier Football League, with Olaosebikan issuing a statement on Monday to express his praise and admiration for the team's success.

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The Ibadan-based side's qualification for continental football next season was sealed with a third-place finish, and Olaosebikan was quick to acknowledge the contributions of several key individuals, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, and the club chairman, Mr Taiwo Lekan Salami.

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Olaosebikan also took the opportunity to recognize the support of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and the team's supporters across Oyo State, highlighting the crucial role they played in the club's achievement.

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According to Olaosebikan, the reign of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Arusa 1, has been instrumental in restoring the glory of Ibadan's beloved team, with the monarch's blessing having a lasting impact on the club's resurgence.

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Olaosebikan recalled the blessing of the Olubadan at his Bodija residence on the players and management of 3SC, which took place shortly after he was announced as the new Imperial Majesty of Ibadanland, and noted that this blessing has now turned around the fortune of the football team.

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As the club prepares for continental competition, Olaosebikan urged stakeholders to sustain momentum, emphasizing the need for stronger institutional and financial backing to ensure the team's continued success.

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He stressed that the team should utilize the qualification for the continental competition to bring greater glory and development to the growth of 3SC, soccer, and sports generally in Oyo State, and called on the Oyo State Government to provide adequate funding for the club's CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

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Olaosebikan also appealed to wealthy indigenes and residents of Ibadan to support the team with resources and incentives, recognizing the significant impact this could have on the club's future success.

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Shooting Stars Sports Club boasts a rich history, having won the African Winners Cup in 1976, which marked Nigeria's first continental club triumph, and their recent qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup has ended a 27-year absence from continental football.

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The Ibadan-based side secured their place in next season's CAF Confederation Cup by finishing third in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, accumulating 60 points from 38 matches to clinch third place, two points ahead of Ikorodu City, who ended the season in fourth position for the second consecutive campaign, despite a final-day 1-0 defeat to Niger Tornadoes.