Joseph Arumala struck inside two minutes to hand Ikorodu City a hard earned 1-0 victory over South West rivals Shooting Stars of Ibadan on matchday 23 of the Nigeria Premier Football League, a result that pushed the Lagos based side up to third place on the standings.
The decisive moment came almost immediately after kick off when Arumala reacted quickest to a rebound, rifling the ball into the roof of the net after Tosin’s initial effort had been saved. The early goal set the tone for a fiercely contested derby, with Ikorodu City forced to defend resolutely for long spells as Shooting Stars pushed for an equaliser.
Despite sustained pressure from the visitors, Ikorodu City remained compact and disciplined, protecting their slender lead through a combination of strong defending and tactical awareness. The final whistle confirmed their tenth win of the season, taking them to 38 points and strengthening their push near the top of the table.
After the match, Arumala reflected on the intensity of the encounter and his joy at scoring against a familiar opponent. “It was very familiar to us. It was a tough game, and it’s a derby for us. This is not my first time scoring against them, so I enjoy scoring against them, even though they are a very good side. They make things very difficult, but it’s a great feeling. I’m very happy.”
He also praised the collective spirit within the team and credited their progress to hard work behind the scenes. “First of all, all glory to God, because He has given us the strength and the skills. But especially the coaches, they have been doing a great job behind the scenes, pushing us every day. The love and unity in the team also keep us going. We know we have been the underdogs, but we are here to prove something. We have very young, talented players who are ready to fight for the badge, and I think that’s our motivation.”
Ikorodu City will now look to build on the momentum from the derby triumph as they continue their impressive run in the NPFL campaign.
