By David Osundeyi
An All Progressives Congress chieftain in Oyo State, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, has congratulated Shooting Stars Sports Club on qualifying to represent Nigeria in the 2026/2027 CAF Confederation Cup, saying the achievement marks a return to continental prominence for the Ibadan-based club.
Shooting Stars, popularly known as 3SC, secured third place in the Nigeria Premier Football League on Sunday, earning Nigeria’s slot in the CAF Confederation Cup for the upcoming season.
The club last featured in a CAF competition in 1999 during the administration of former Oyo State Governor Lam Adesina. 3SC won Nigeria’s first continental trophy in 1976 when it clinched the African Winners’ Cup during the reign of Olubadan Oba Gbadamosi Akanbi Adebimpe.
In a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday, Olaosebikan congratulated the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, 3SC Chairman Taiwo Lekan-Salami, and football supporters across Oyo State on the achievement.
Olaosebikan said the reign of Oba Ladoja had “restored the glory of Ibadan’s darling team.” He recalled that the Olubadan hosted and blessed the players and management at his Bodija residence shortly after his installation, an event he said had helped turn around the club’s fortunes.
The APC chieftain, who served as Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Lam Adesina, congratulated the players, management, officials, and supporters of 3SC and urged the team to build on the success.
He called on the Oyo State government to provide adequate funding to ensure the club’s success in the continental competition. He also appealed to prominent indigenes and residents of Ibadan to support the club financially and with other incentives ahead of the CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
