Aweroro clears air on bribery claims after leaving Shooting Stars

Former Shooting Stars coach Nurudeen Aweroro has denied claims that players at the club tried to bribe him. These claims are reportedly linked to why the club let him go before the 2026/27 season, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Shooting Stars parted ways with Aweroro by mutual agreement last Saturday. He was in charge for just one season.

In his only season, Aweroro led the Ibadan team to a third-place finish in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League. This performance ended a 27-year wait for the club to return to continental football and earned them a spot in the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.

The club has been drawn against CS Sfaxien from Tunisia in the first round of the preliminary stage.

Aweroro's assistant, Shakiru Lawal, and team manager Tammy Tamuno were also affected by this decision.

During an appearance on a Yoruba sports show, Gbagede Ere Idaraya, hosted by Sola Aiyegbajeje in Ibadan, Aweroro dismissed some of the rumors about his exit.

“Any player who has said I used to take money from them should come forward with the evidence. If they are able to present any evidence, that means I am truly guilty.

“These are different from instances whereby players feel they should appreciate you with a token. There was even a time Qamar Adegoke was experiencing a goal drought. I prayed for him and charged him to score nothing less than 10 goals. He wanted to send money to me, and I told him to send it to the fans,” Aweroro said.

“I brought Alade Balogun from Ikorodu City, and I had to ask him in the midst of all the players if I had ever asked him for any financial favours or inducements before. He said no. That is a player that has been with me from Ikorodu City.

“You see these players, there are some among them that I give money to, and there are some that I buy boots for.”

When asked if he faced tough conditions while coaching, Aweroro said the job affected his health, despite helping the club secure a continental ticket.

“Yes, I could say that. During my time at the club, my blood pressure was around 169, and the chairman, Taiwo Lekan-Salami, had ensured that I went to the hospital.

“At the hospital, I was given some medications to take and told to rest, but I told them I would not be able to rest until I won the battle, which was achieving the club’s target.