Adaramola Yemiblak
January 31, 2026NPFL: Shooting Stars ordered to vacate Lekan Salami stadium
Photo Credit: Shooting Stars
NPFL: Shooting Stars ordered to vacate Lekan Salami stadium
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has ordered Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) to vacate the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
3SC, which has used the venue as its home ground since the start of the season, was informed of the decision by the league board following a recent assessment of the playing surface.
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The NPFL provided the Oluyole Warriors with options to relocate to either the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos, or the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Match will take place at the MKO Abiola Sports
The decision was communicated to the Ibadan-based club in a letter signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, on Friday. According to the NPFL, the pitch at the Lekan Salami Stadium has significantly deteriorated and no longer meets the required standards for top-flight league matches, raising concerns over player safety and match quality.
Until significant improvements and official certification of the Lekan Salami Stadium pitch are completed, Shooting Stars are expected to host their remaining home fixtures at one of the approved alternative venues.
As a result of the deteriorating pitch conditions, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has also approved a request by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to change the venue for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup third-round, first-leg qualifier between Nigeria and Senegal.
Originally scheduled for the Lekan Salami Stadium on Saturday, February 7, the match will now take place at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta, Ogun State.