Ikorodu City Set to Unleash Four New Stars in South West Derby Against Shooting Stars

Ikorodu City are gearing up for a thrilling South West derby clash against Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, with four new players ready to make their long-awaited debut.

The quartet — Abass Lawal, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Emmanuel Ikechukwu, and Chinonso Uzoma — all joined the Oga Boys at the start of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season and are now primed to bolster the squad.

Both teams are still searching for their first win of the campaign, raising the stakes for what promises to be a tense and fiercely contested encounter. Last season, this same fixture ended in a hard-fought goalless draw, and neither side will want a repeat outcome this time.

Opinion

The South West derby has always been more than just a football match — it’s about pride, rivalry, and bragging rights. For Ikorodu City, handing debuts to four fresh faces is both a gamble and an opportunity. These players could bring the spark needed to tilt the balance in their favor, especially against a Shooting Stars side desperate to kickstart their season.

Abass Lawal’s attacking flair, Abdullahi’s midfield stability, Ikechukwu’s energy, and Uzoma’s defensive grit represent exactly the kind of depth Ikorodu City have been crying out for. If they click quickly, Shooting Stars might find themselves in real trouble on home turf.

On the other hand, Shooting Stars will remember last season’s draw and approach this tie with a point to prove. Their fans will expect nothing less than victory, and that pressure could play right into Ikorodu’s hands.

One thing is certain: the derby atmosphere at Lekan Salami Stadium will be electric. Whether it ends in stalemate again or produces a winner, today’s clash is set to write a new chapter in the growing rivalry of these South West neighbors.