Shooting Stars Return to CAF Confederation Cup After 27 Year

Shooting Stars technical adviser Nurudeen Aweroro has spoken of his profound gratitude after guiding the Ibadan club to a third-place finish in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League season, ending a 27-year absence from continental club football and booking a place in the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.

The Oluyole Warriors secured their continental berth despite losing 1-0 to Niger Tornadoes on the final day of the campaign, with their third-place position holding firm across simultaneous results elsewhere.

It completes back-to-back seasons of progress under Aweroro, who guided 3SC to fourth place in his debut campaign last term before going one better this season.

True to character, the coach was quick to deflect attention away from his own contribution and toward the players and backroom staff who he credited as the true architects of the achievement.

“To God be all the praise — He made this possible, I’m deeply humbled to lead this group,” Aweroro said.

“My heartfelt thanks to Hon. Taiwo Lekan-Salami for the belief and backing. If I’m honest, my role was small. The heart, sweat, and sacrifice came from the players who gave everything, and the staff who worked day and night out of sight. Media and fans, I’m begging you — celebrate these boys and the backroom team more. They deserve every cheer, every headline.”

The last time Shooting Stars featured in African club football was the 1998/99 season, when the CAF competition structure still comprised the African Cup Winners’ Cup and the CAF Cup running alongside the Champions Cup.

The club that lines up in the Confederation Cup next season will do so in an entirely different era of continental football, with structured prize money, streaming coverage and professional logistics that were absent from the late 1990s version of CAF competition.