The Oluyole Warriors have put on an impressive display in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season, maintaining an unbeaten run in their last three matches.
3SC currently hold fifth place on the table with 48 points from 32 matches, and if Gbenga Ogunbote’s men can maintain their current form, they stand a strong chance of securing at least a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
In an exclusive interview with Flashscore, former Super Eagles captain Adepoju—who once played for the Ibadan-based side before launching a successful career abroad—praised Shooting Stars for their remarkable consistency and progress throughout the season.
“It’s a very commendable season for the Shooting Stars, although they could have been in the second position,” he said.
“They have been in the second position for some time during the season until when they lost some points and they dropped to fourth.
“Even at this, they are still doing very well and they still have the opportunity of qualifying for the continental football at the end of the season.
“So, I hope they will continue that way and they will end the league very well as they started.”
Ogunbote’s side finished fourth last season, narrowly missing out on a CAF Confederation Cup spot to Enyimba, who edged them out by just a single point.
Despite their rich history, including winning the CAF Cup in 1992 and finishing as runners-up in the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1984 and 1996, the club has not featured in a CAF competition since 1999, when they reached the group stage of the African Cup of Champions Clubs (now CAF Champions League).
Adepoju highlights what the five-time Nigerian league champions have been missing by not competing on the continental stage as they once did.
"Well, a lot. a whole lot," he continued. "The club has been missing out on continental football, and so have the fans.
"They've longed to see those big nights—teams from other countries coming to Ibadan to play. Beyond just the matches, there's the glamour, the excitement, and the prestige that comes with competing on the continental stage. That’s something everyone connected to the club has been craving."
Club’s General Manager and former Nigeria international, Dimeji Lawal, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform well and secure a continental ticket by the end of the season.
"We will keep pushing hard to finish the season strongly and secure one of the tickets to Africa because that is where we belong," Lawal told Flashscore.com.
"We were close last season, and this time, we cannot afford to let our fans down—they expect a lot from us. My team knows what is at stake, and we won’t give up until our mission is accomplished."
3SC continue their push for a spot in Africa as they travel to the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa for Friday’s league outing.
Following that, they will welcome league leaders Remo Stars to Ibadan on April 20th, before tackling Abia Warriors seven days later in Umuahia.
