Shooting Stars target breakthrough away win against Barau FC

Shooting Stars (3SC) will attempt to claim their first away victory of the 2026/27 NPFL season when they visit Barau FC at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday.

The Oluyole Warriors go into Matchday 12 in 10th place with 15 points from 11 matches. Their record includes four wins, three draws and four defeats. Barau are seventh on 16 points, having won three games, drawn seven and lost once.

The sides are separated by only one point as they compete in a tightly packed mid-table section of the standings.

3SC’s form has been sharply divided between home and away matches. They have yet to win on the road, drawing once and losing four times, while scoring five goals and conceding 12.

At home, however, the Ibadan club remain unbeaten. Their stronger record includes a 4-1 victory over Abia Warriors and a 3-1 win against Ranchers Bees.

They will arrive in Kano with added confidence after taking seven points from their last three league fixtures. That sequence has raised expectations within the team and given coach Salisu Yusuf’s side renewed belief that they can end their away drought.

Barau have also proved difficult to defeat, although their recent run has been marked by a lack of victories. They have not won in the league since Matchday 5 and have drawn a number of their subsequent matches, including a goalless encounter away to Niger Tornadoes.

The Kano-based club are therefore on a prolonged unbeaten but winless run. Their generally reliable home form could be important as they look to return to winning ways and move closer to the top four, depending on results elsewhere.

History favours the visitors in recent meetings. Shooting Stars have won both previous encounters between the teams by 1-0 margins, including an away victory at the Sani Abacha Stadium last season.

That record offers 3SC encouragement as they seek maximum points, although another victory would have significance beyond their head-to-head advantage. It would be their first away success of the campaign and would take them above Barau in the table, while strengthening their hold on a top-half position.

Barau, meanwhile, would move forward with three points by ending their league winless spell, consolidating their place in the top half and preserving the momentum built during what has been a resilient debut-style campaign under their current setup.