Shooting Stars defeat Abia Warriors 4–1.

Shooting Stars Sports Club delivered one of their strongest performances of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign on Sunday, November 1, defeating Abia Warriors 4–1 at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.

The Oluyole Warriors took control early, scoring three first-half goals before adding another late in the game to secure an emphatic victory. Damilola Akinola opened the scoring, while Sodiq Ibrahim produced an impressive brace. Issa Yusuf completed the scoring with an 88th-minute strike.

Abia Warriors managed to pull one goal back in the second half, but their response was not enough to prevent another disappointing result. The defeat extended their winless run to five matches.

Akinola gives Shooting Stars an early breakthrough

Shooting Stars wasted little time asserting themselves in front of their home supporters. The hosts pressed from the opening minutes and were rewarded with the opening goal just four minutes into the encounter.

Damilola Akinola found the net after receiving a well-timed pass from Sodiq Ibrahim. The early breakthrough gave Shooting Stars confidence and forced Abia Warriors to respond sooner than they would have wanted.

The visitors attempted to settle into the game, but the home side continued to create attacking opportunities. Abia Warriors goalkeeper Johnson Nmecha made important interventions to prevent the scoreline from increasing earlier.

Shooting Stars' movement in the attacking areas, however, continued to cause problems for the visitors. Their pressure eventually produced a second goal shortly before half-time.

Ibrahim's brace puts the hosts in control

The decisive period of the match came towards the end of the first half.

In the 41st minute, Sodiq Ibrahim doubled Shooting Stars' advantage with a well-taken finish. The striker had already contributed to the opening goal, and his second major contribution of the afternoon strengthened the hosts' grip on the contest.

Ibrahim was not finished. Deep into first-half stoppage time, he scored again to complete his brace and give Shooting Stars a commanding 3–0 lead at the interval.

The two goals highlighted Ibrahim's importance to the team's attacking performance. His movement, link-up play and ability to take advantage of scoring opportunities made him one of the standout players of the encounter.

For Abia Warriors, conceding three goals before the break left them with a difficult task. They needed a major improvement after half-time to have any realistic chance of getting back into the contest.

Abia Warriors respond, but Issa Yusuf seals the victory

Abia Warriors returned for the second half with greater determination and made changes in an attempt to improve their performance.

Their efforts eventually paid off in the 80th minute when they scored to reduce the deficit to 3–1. The goal briefly offered the visitors hope of making the closing stages more competitive.

However, Shooting Stars responded quickly and refused to allow the visitors to build momentum. Issa Yusuf scored in the 88th minute to restore the three-goal advantage and make it 4–1.

The late goal settled the contest and ensured that the hosts finished the afternoon with a convincing victory. It also gave Shooting Stars a fitting reward for an attacking display that had troubled Abia Warriors throughout the match.

What the result means for both clubs

The victory lifted Shooting Stars to 10th position on the NPFL table with 15 points from 11 matches, according to the matchday standings. It was an important result for the Ibadan side as they seek greater consistency in the league.

The win also provided a timely response after the team dropped points in their previous Southwest derby against Ikorodu City. A four-goal performance should give the players confidence as they prepare for their next fixtures.

Abia Warriors, meanwhile, were left with more questions after another difficult outing. Their five-match winless sequence has increased the pressure on the team to improve defensively and rediscover their ability to collect points.

The club will need a stronger response in its upcoming matches to move away from the lower end of the standings.

For Shooting Stars, the priority will be to build on this performance rather than treat it as an isolated result. If the team can maintain the attacking energy and discipline displayed against Abia Warriors, it could become a stronger contender for a higher league position as the season progresses.