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Shooting Stars failed to take any of the gifts presented to them by the Super Eagles man who returned to Nigeria after leaving NPFL for Sudan.
It was a tale of missed opportunities for Shooting Stars as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Sudanese champions Al Merrikh led by Super Eagles goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke in the Value Jet Cup pre-season tournament.
The star of the show was undoubtedly Super Eagles goalkeeper Olorunleke, who made a triumphant but mistake-laden return to Nigeria after leaving Enyimba for a move to the Sudanese giants.
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Super Eagles goalkeeper’s blushes saved
Olorunleke, who kept 11 clean sheets for Enyimba last season before ditching the NPFL for Sudan, had a rather interesting evening after gifting the Oluyole Warriors easy chances on occasion.
The Shooting Stars forwards, however, led by the profligate Okachi, squandered the gilt-edged chances, much to the frustration of their fans.
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Twice in the first half, Olorunleke's wayward passes were pounced upon by the Shooting Stars attackers, but they failed to make the most of the opportunities presented to them.
It was a costly lapse in concentration from the experienced Nigeria international, but Shooting Stars were unable to capitalise on the Super Eagles man's generosity.
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In the end, it was Sudan's Mutaz Hashim who broke the deadlock late in the game, condemning the defending champions of the Value Jet Cup to a disappointing defeat.
Olorunleke, who bid farewell to Enyimba at the end of the last NPFL season, will no doubt be relieved to have kept a clean sheet on his return to Nigerian soil, providing a timely reminder of his quality between the sticks.
The result will be a tough pill to swallow for Shooting Stars, who relegated Sporting Lagos last season, as they will rue their inability to take advantage of the gifts presented to them by the Super Eagles goalkeeper.
As the pre-season tournament continues, both sides will be looking to bounce back from this result, with Shooting Stars in particular needing to find their shooting boots if they are to retain their Value Jet Cup crown.
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