Shooting Stars Temporarily Relocate Home Games to Abeokuta Amid Stadium Concerns
Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, competing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), will play their upcoming home fixtures at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. This temporary relocation, confirmed for this weekend’s match against Warri Wolves, follows official directives prompted by the deteriorating condition of their regular home ground, the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan.
The league’s management presented the Oluyole Warriors, as Shooting Stars are nicknamed, with two designated alternative venues: the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. The decision to move stems from specific concerns that the Ibadan stadium’s pitch is currently unsuitable for professional television broadcast, a critical requirement for the NPFL’s media partnerships.
This weekend’s fixture marks the club’s first encounter at their new temporary base. The team’s return to its traditional Lekan Salami Stadium home is contingent upon receiving formal approval from the NPFL authorities following necessary remediation work.
On the field, Shooting Stars approach the match in inconsistent form. The team is winless in their last two league outings and currently sits in seventh position on the NPFL table with 35 points. The relocation introduces a logistical adjustment for both the team and their travelling supporters ahead of the clash with Warri Wolves.
The move highlights the ongoing challenges several NPFL clubs face with infrastructure, underscoring the league’s enforcement of minimum venue standards. For Shooting Stars, the immediate focus is adapting to the new environment in Abeokuta while aiming to secure three points and build momentum. The club and league body will continue to assess the situation in Ibadan to determine a timeline for a permanent return home.
