Shooting Stars Sports Club have given their supporters a reason to smile after ending a five-match winless run with an impressive 3-1 victory over Ranchers Bees in the Nigeria Premier Football League on Friday.
The Ibadan-based side produced a much-needed performance at the Lekan Salami Stadium, showing greater attacking intent and determination to secure all three points.
Desmond Ojietefian opened the scoring in the 14th minute, giving Shooting Stars an early advantage and lifting the home crowd. Ranchers Bees responded through Isah Ndala in the 38th minute, briefly bringing the visitors back into the contest.
But Shooting Stars regained the lead just before the interval when Damilola Akinola scored in added time at the end of the first half. The goal gave the hosts renewed confidence going into the break.
The second half brought more pressure from the Ibadan side, and Qamar Adegoke made the difference with a goal in the 71st minute to seal the 3-1 victory.
The result ended a frustrating stretch for Shooting Stars, who had struggled to turn their performances into wins. Getting three points on home soil could prove important as the team looks to climb the NPFL table and build momentum for the weeks ahead.
For Ranchers Bees, the defeat adds to the pressure following a difficult start to the season. The club will need to tighten up defensively and find greater consistency if it hopes to move away from the lower end of the standings.
Shooting Stars, meanwhile, will be eager to use this result as a turning point rather than a one-off success. Their challenge now is to carry the same energy and attacking confidence into their next fixtures.
The NPFL season remains competitive, and every point matters as clubs battle for position.
