Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), a prominent Nigerian football club with a rich history and a five-time Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) championship title under its belt, recently achieved a significant milestone in Nigerian football by publicly disclosing its matchday revenue. In a landmark move towards greater financial transparency within the league, 3SC announced a total of N6,627,500 generated from ticket sales during their home match against Ikorodu City on matchday three of the 2025/26 NPFL season. This unprecedented act of transparency is directly attributed to the recent restructuring of the club’s management and signals a potentially transformative shift in how Nigerian football clubs handle and report their finances.
The breakdown of ticket sales reveals a tiered pricing strategy employed by the club. A total of 8,425 tickets were sold for the match, almost filling the 10,000-capacity Lekan Salami Stadium. The club offered three categories of tickets: 171 VVIP tickets priced at N5,000 each, contributing N855,000 to the total revenue; 1,097 VIP tickets sold at N2,000 each, generating N2,194,000; and 7,157 regular tickets at N500 each, yielding N3,578,500. The combined revenue from these three categories amounted to the disclosed figure of N6,627,500. This detailed breakdown not only provides transparency but also offers insights into the club’s revenue model and its fan base segmentation.
While the financial success of the matchday is a positive development for 3SC, their on-field performance remains a work in progress. The match against Ikorodu City ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the Oluyole Warriors, as they are popularly known, still searching for their first win of the season. Sodiq Ibrahim’s early goal for 3SC was cancelled out by Shola Adelani’s equalizer before halftime. This draw follows a goalless draw against Bayelsa United in their opening match and another draw against Bendel Insurance in their second game. The team, now under the guidance of coach Nurudeen Aweroro, faces a challenging road ahead as they strive to recapture the glory days of their past and end their title drought, which stretches back to 1998.
3SC’s history is deeply interwoven with the history of Nigerian football. Founded in the 1950s, the club boasts an impressive record of domestic and continental achievements. They have clinched the Nigerian Premier League title five times (1976, 1980, 1983, 1995, and 1998) and have lifted the Nigerian FA Cup, now known as the Federation Cup, four times (1971, 1977, 1979, and 1995). On the continental stage, 3SC achieved significant success by winning the CAF Cup in 1992 and the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1976. Both tournaments have since been merged into the current CAF Confederation Cup.
The decision by 3SC to publicly announce their matchday revenue represents a significant departure from the norm in Nigerian football, where financial details are often kept confidential. This move could potentially set a precedent for other clubs in the league to follow suit, promoting greater transparency and accountability within the sport. This transparency can also foster trust among fans and stakeholders, allowing them to gain a better understanding of the club’s financial health and the utilization of resources. Such transparency could also attract potential investors and sponsors, contributing to the overall financial stability and growth of the club.
Looking ahead, 3SC’s next fixture is an away game against Rivers United in Port Harcourt, a challenging encounter that will test their resolve and provide a further opportunity to secure their first victory of the season. Coach Aweroro and his team face the task of translating their financial progress into on-field success as they continue their quest to add to their trophy cabinet and restore the club to its former glory. The transparent approach to financial reporting adopted by 3SC holds the promise of a more professional and financially sound future for the club and, potentially, for Nigerian football as a whole.
