The first South West derby of the NPFL26 season produced a tightly contested affair as Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) were held to a 1–1 draw by Ikorodu City at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Ibadan, on Sunday.
The Oluyole Warriors made a dream start when Sodiq Ibraheem broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, finishing off a swift move to give the hosts early control. But Ikorodu City, playing with confidence on their second season in the NPFL, clawed their way back and struck just before halftime. Shola Adelani silenced the home crowd in the 45th minute with a well-taken equalizer, ensuring the Oga Boys went into the break level.
The second half was fiercely fought, with both teams creating openings but failing to find a winner. Shooting Stars edged possession with 52%, while Ikorodu City carved out more chances (9 to 8) and proved dangerous on the counter.
Match Statistics
Shots on Target: Shooting Stars 4 – 3 Ikorodu City
Chances Created: Shooting Stars 8 – 9 Ikorodu City
Possession: Shooting Stars 52% – 48% Ikorodu City
Corners: Shooting Stars 2 – 4 Ikorodu City
Fouls Committed: Shooting Stars 18 – 25 Ikorodu City
Yellow Cards: Shooting Stars 2 – 3 Ikorodu City
Shooting Stars, with two points from three matches, will travel to Port Harcourt to face Rivers United on Matchday Four. Meanwhile, Ikorodu City, who have three points from their opening three fixtures, will look to build momentum when they host Barau FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
The draw leaves both sides still searching for consistency, but their spirited display in Ibadan suggests the South West derby will remain a thrilling fixture on the NPFL calendar.
