Ikorodu City Recount Hostile Treatment After Draw with Shooting Stars

Ikorodu City FC faced a frightening situation in Ibadan after their goalless draw against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in a Week 32 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

The result upset some 3SC fans, who reportedly held Ikorodu City players and officials hostage after the game. The angry fans were unhappy that the draw hurt their team’s chances of qualifying for continental football next season.

Although 3SC are still in the race for a CAF Confederation Cup spot – sitting fourth with 48 points, just two behind third-placed Abia Warriors – their hopes of reaching the CAF Champions League are fading, with leaders Remo Stars and Rivers United holding stronger positions.

Despite being the away side, Ikorodu City were not spared from the aftermath of the tense game. Reports say several of their players were injured while trying to escape, with some scaling fences to flee from the hostile crowd. Their team bus was also damaged, and the referee was attacked.

Suleiman Adebayo, a director at Ikorodu City, described the incident as a nightmare. “Our players and officials were held hostage from 7:30 p.m. until around 9:00 p.m. Soldiers eventually had to rescue them. Thank God everyone is safe. It was hell,” he said.

The Guardian also learnt that police at the stadium advised the Ikorodu City team to stay in their dressing room while waiting for reinforcements. Eventually, soldiers arrived and ensured their safe evacuation from the stadium.

David Aigbovo, former Super Eagles goalkeeper and member of 3SC’s 1992 CAF Cup-winning team, condemned the violence. “It was a show of shame,” he said. “Just because your team didn’t win doesn’t mean fans should behave like that. In football, you win some and lose some. What happened on Sunday was bad for our league.”

The NPFL has said it is waiting for the official match commissioner’s report before deciding on any punishments. A top league official said, “We can’t rely on social media reports. Once we have the commissioner’s report, we’ll act according to the rules of the competition.”

The incident has raised serious concerns about safety and discipline in Nigerian football, with many calling for strict actions to prevent a repeat of such behaviour.