Sunshine Stars suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Shooting Stars in a hard-fought Matchday 36 encounter of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, held at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The decisive moment came in the 84th minute when a late penalty was awarded to the hosts following a scramble in the penalty area.

Earlier, Sunshine Stars defender Yusuf Olowoshile was shown a red card in the 82nd minutes just two minutes before a penalty was awarded for a foul.

The spot-kick was calmly converted by Shooting Stars to seal the victory.

Despite the loss, Sunshine Stars delivered a spirited performance, showing determination throughout the match, matching Shooting Stars and creating several chances.

Goalkeeper Emmanuel Offori stood out with a series of fine saves that kept the Owena Whales in contention for most of the game.

In his post-match remarks, Shooting Stars head coach Gbenga Ogunbote commended Sunshine Stars for their resilience, describing their current league position as “unfortunate.”

Sunshine Stars’ head coach Bobola Akinfolarin expressed disappointment with the result, calling the defeat painful—especially after conceding a late penalty. However, he emphasized that the team’s focus will now shift to the remaining two matches of the season.