Ibadan, Nigeria— The drama surrounding the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) took a bold turn this week as the Oyo State Football Association (OYSFA) issued a formal summons to renowned Yoruba sports broadcaster Shola Ayegbajeje following his public accusations of match-fixing leveled against the embattled Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
Ayegbajeje, a staff member of Prince FM 88.7, has stirred significant controversy after alleging that 3SC manipulated the outcomes of three critical NPFL fixtures — specifically their matches against Lobi Stars, Katsina United, and Remo Stars.
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The fallout from these claims has been swift. The Oyo State FA, in a letter signed by its Secretary, Kehinde Ojelowo, has called on both Ayegbajeje and Shooting Stars Chairman, Babatunde Olaniyan David, popularly known as ‘Akoro’, to appear before the association on Monday, May 5th, at 12 noon. The meeting is scheduled to be held at the OYSFA Office inside the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
This development adds a new layer of tension to an already troubling period for the Oluyole Warriors. Shooting Stars are currently in a rough patch, having failed to secure a win in their last five NPFL matches. The slump has seen the team slide to 11th place on the league table, with a total of 48 points.
While match-fixing allegations are not new in global football, having a local journalist publicly confront a state-backed club with such serious claims is rare — and signals the growing demand for transparency and accountability within the Nigerian football system.
Why This Matters In a league where officiating decisions, game integrity, and club management often draw scrutiny, the gravity of these allegations cannot be overstated. Whether Ayegbajeje’s claims are substantiated or not, the response from the Oyo FA could set a precedent for how Nigerian football institutions address whistleblowing and protect the integrity of the game.
As the football community waits for the outcome of Monday’s meeting, fans, pundits, and stakeholders will be watching closely. Will this be the start of a broader investigation into match-fixing in the NPFL? Or will it fizzle out as another scandal buried under bureaucracy?
One thing is clear: Nigerian football has reached a pivotal moment, and transparency must take center stage.
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