BY SAB OSUJI

Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, Ibadan, fondly called 'The Oluyole Warriors', were condemned to a 1-0 defeat courtesy of Mutaz Hashim's 77th minute strike of extraordinary quality in their 2024 ValueJet Championship title defense clash against El Merreikh of Sudan.

The holders got their 3rd  edition of the Valuejet Preseason tournament underway in Ikenne, the home ground of Remo Stars FC, a Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, side.

Despite having superior opportunities to snatch victory in the first half, 3SC failed to make hay with their chances, fluffing their scoring chances as they were supremely carved out before they were eventually punished by the Sudanese giants.

Mutaz Hashim's solitary goal then arrived in the seventy-seventh minute, and eventually turning the game on its head by swinging victory to the Sudanese club who are making their debut appearance in the annual tournament in Ikenne.

In the opening match of the championship, Remo Stars 'B', substituting for Beyond Limits who unexpectedly withdrew from the competition, and Ikorodu City played out a 1-1 draw. 

Ojetoye Waliu of Ikorodu City found the net in the seventy-ninth minute, only to be matched by Samuel Anakwe of Beyond Limits B, resulting in a stalemate.

The tournament continues today with Match Day two with Group B fixtures at  2:00pm with clash between Rivers United and Ijebu United, to be followed by Kwara United versus Remo Stars (Group A) fixture at 4:00pm.