Shooting Stars Struggling: Should They Let Go of Salisu Yusuf?

For a well-known club like Shooting Stars, getting supporters to be patient is not easy.

The Oluyole Warriors are one of the most recognized names in Nigerian football. When they lose at Lekan Salami Stadium, the reactions are usually strong.

When the team does not win, fans start to feel frustrated. If the performances are not convincing enough, this frustration can quickly turn into demands for change.

That is where Shooting Stars currently find themselves.

After a goalless draw against Kano Pillars on Wednesday in their rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League Matchday 3 game in Ibadan, some fans made their feelings very clear.

“Salisu must go,” they chanted

Shooting Stars have now gone four league matches without a win, with two draws and two losses. They have only won once in their last six matches.

But is this enough reason to say Yusuf should be sacked, or are the fans reacting too quickly to a tough start in a long season?

The opinions are split. Some fans think the team’s issues were clear from the start, while others believe Yusuf should get time to fix things, similar to what former coach Nurudeen Aweroro did last season.

The numbers are not kind to Yusuf

Shooting Stars began the season with a 2-1 home win over newly promoted Inter Lagos, sparking hopes of building on last season’s third-place finish and returning to continental football.

That optimism quickly faded after a 3-1 loss away to Plateau United. They bounced back with a 2-0 win over Katsina United but then lost 1-0 to Warri Wolves and 4-2 to Enyimba. They followed up with goalless draws against Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars.

After seven league matches, Yusuf’s record shows two wins, two draws, and three losses, leaving the team with eight points.

The worries are not just about the points. Shooting Stars have struggled to play consistently and have not scored in their last two matches, both at home.

For a club aiming for continental success, this record raises concerns.

Tobi Ayinde: ‘They will turn it around with a coach like Salisu’

Tobi Ayinde, a journalist and NPFL analyst, thinks it is too soon to call for a coaching change. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he said Yusuf’s situation is similar to the early days of Aweroro’s time, when the team also had trouble before finding their form.

“Honestly, I think there is not much difference between what’s happening now and the start of Aweroro’s tenure; fans are just too fickle-minded to see it at the start of his tenure too; they weren’t doing great, and they turned it around; I think they will turn it around with a coach like Salisu.”

Aweroro eventually led Shooting Stars to third place last season, earning 60 points and taking the team to continental football for the first time in 27 years. Ayinde believes Yusuf should be given time to work through these challenges instead of being fired after just seven matches.

Robert Olimene saw the warning signs

Robert Olimene, another sports journalist and NPFL analyst, is less hopeful. He said he was worried about the team’s form even before the league started, pointing to their performance in the ValueJet Cup.

“The form is worrisome; I knew the team would struggle from their campaign at the ValueJet Cup,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.

He also questioned the team’s depth.

“Team lacks depth,” Mr Olimene added.

This concern goes beyond Yusuf’s strategies and decisions during matches. A lack of depth can limit a coach’s options when injuries or poor form require changes, making it hard to maintain consistency in a long season.

Shooting Stars returned to continental competition after finishing third last season, but that journey has also led to disappointment. If the team’s issues existed before this season, changing the coach alone may not fix the problem.

The club’s management needs to figure out if Yusuf has the right players to improve results or if squad issues are holding him back.

The Aweroro comparison makes the pressure heavier

Yusuf is being compared to Aweroro’s achievements last season, when Shooting Stars finished third with 60 points and returned to continental football after 27 years.

At the same time last season, the team had 11 points and was fifth in the standings. Yusuf’s team had seven points after six matches before the postponed Kano Pillars game and now has eight after Wednesday’s draw, three points behind Aweroro’s team at the same point last season.

This gap adds to the pressure, but early-season points do not decide the final standings. The key question is whether Yusuf’s team is improving and fixing the issues causing their results.

Seven matches cannot tell the whole story

Yusuf has a lot of experience in Nigerian football, having worked with clubs like Kano Pillars and Enyimba. He was brought in to lead a team that had been among the best in the NPFL, but he is still trying to find his best setup.

Changes in personnel and the squad-depth issues mentioned by Olimene might complicate this process. They don’t excuse three losses in seven matches, but they are important when judging the coach’s performance.

Shooting Stars must find a way to give Yusuf time to put his ideas into action while ensuring that poor results do not become normal. Frequent coaching changes do not guarantee stability or success, but keeping a coach without any visible progress is not a good strategy either.

The biggest concern is the lack of consistency

Shooting Stars have shown they can win, beating Inter Lagos 2-1 and Katsina United 2-0, but those victories have been followed by losses to Plateau United, Warri Wolves, and Enyimba.

The defeat to Enyimba was particularly harmful. The Aba side had lost their first four matches and drawn one before getting their first win at Shooting Stars’ expense.

The Oluyole Warriors then failed to score against Nasarawa United and Kano Pillars. This pattern shows a team struggling to perform reliably against different foes.

Yusuf needs to find a way to make the team more solid defensively without losing their attacking threat.

The attack needs answers

The two goalless draws at home have intensified the criticism. Shooting Stars have struggled to convert pressure into goals, leaving fans frustrated at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

Defensive issues are also clear. The team allowed three goals against Plateau United and four against Enyimba. In seven league matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded nine.

Yusuf must reduce defensive mistakes while giving his attackers the structure and confidence to perform better. How quickly he addresses these problems will influence the pressure on him.

The supporters aren’t entirely wrong

It may be premature to call for Yusuf’s firing, but fans have the right to question a team that has only two wins in their first seven matches and has not scored in two consecutive home games.

Aweroro’s third-place finish last season raised expectations, and fans naturally want to see that progress continue. Their reactions are shaped by not just stats but also performances, tactics, and what they see on the pitch.

Ayinde’s call for patience and Olimene’s worries about squad depth can both be valid. Yusuf might need more time, while the club may also have structural issues to deal with.

The Kano Pillars draw changes little

The goalless draw with Kano Pillars was a chance for Yusuf to ease the criticism, but it led to another frustrating home result.

Kano Pillars had gone unbeaten in their first seven matches, making a point against them respectable. But Shooting Stars were at home and needed a win to boost confidence and reconnect with fans.

Instead, the result extended their winless run to four league matches. In the current situation, another goalless draw did little to lift the spirits.

So, should Salisu Yusuf go?

Shooting Stars have not performed well so far: two wins, two draws, and three losses from seven matches is disappointing for a club with their goals.

Whether Yusuf should be let go right now is a tougher question. Seven matches are only a small part of a 38-match season, and there is still time to recover. But he must show he can fix the team’s weaknesses and improve results.

Ayinde believes Yusuf can make the necessary changes, while Olimene points to squad limitations and earlier warning signs. The club needs to figure out if the problems are mainly due to coaching, the players, or both.

Giving Yusuf time should not mean giving him endless time. The management needs to see clear signs of progress and a real evaluation of whether the squad can meet the club’s goals.

Kun Khalifat could shape the debate

Shooting Stars will face Kun Khalifat away on Sunday. Their opponents are currently in 19th place, giving Yusuf an important chance to change how people feel about his team.

A win would relieve some pressure and help restore confidence. Another loss or poor showing would increase calls for a change in management.

The performance will be just as important as the result. Fans need to see better defense, a clear plan, and more intent in attack. If the winless run continues in the next few matches, the club will find it harder to ignore calls for change.

Ibadan fans: Too impatient or demanding accountability?

Shooting Stars fans are not wrong to seek answers, even if it is early to conclude that Yusuf should go.

The team’s record, two wins, two draws, and three losses, is below expectations. They have scored seven goals and conceded nine, failing to score in their last two matches. They are also three points behind Aweroro’s team at the same point last season.

Yusuf can still change the narrative, but he must turn draws into wins, cut down on defensive mistakes, and sharpen the attack.

For Ayinde, the coach deserves more time; for Olimene, the team’s form and lack of depth are worrying signs. The club must tell the difference between a rough start that can be fixed and deeper issues that need decisive action.

Firing Yusuf after seven matches might be an emotional choice. Keeping him without demanding progress would be equally hard to explain.

The next few weeks should help to clarify the situation. The message from Ibadan is already loud; Yusuf’s job is to let the football speak for itself.