Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) club Shooting Stars have announced that winger Ismail Ayodele is absent without leave (AWOL) after failing to report for pre-season duties, Soccernet.ng reports.
Shooting Stars enjoyed a successful 2025/26 campaign in the Nigerian top flight, finishing third to secure their first continental qualification in 27 years.
Preparations for the new season are already underway. While the club is focused on retaining its current squad, they are simultaneously scouting for new talent to bolster their roster.
They were recently linked with Haruna Hadi, who played for Remo Stars last season; however, newly promoted Sporting Lagos swooped in late to hijack the deal.
Pre-season training has commenced, but the squad is currently without Ayodele, who was a pivotal figure for the team last season.
The left-winger contributed four goals and four assists in 35 league appearances and played a key role in the team's impressive finish. Despite having one year remaining on his contract, he has failed to report for pre-season training.
What Shooting Stars Said About Ayodele Ismail
On Friday, Shooting Stars released a statement confirming Ayodele’s unauthorized absence. They also noted that he is being influenced by “an unprofessional agent, Abdelhamid Adel,” and confirmed that they have reported the matter to FIFA.
”Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) wishes to inform the general public that our player, Ayodele Ismail, is currently Absent Without Leave (AWOL), having failed to report for official club duties despite being under a valid contract,” the club wrote.
”The club is also aware of the involvement of an unprofessional agent, Abdelhamid Adel, who is affiliated with AMB Sports Management (Egypt), regarding the player’s unauthorized absence. This constitutes a serious breach of the player’s contractual obligations.”
”Ayodele Ismail remains a contracted player of Shooting Stars Sports Club, and any club, intermediary, or representative interested in his services must engage directly with the club through the appropriate channels.”
”We have reported the unprofessional conduct of the Egypt-based agent to the appropriate body at FIFA. Shooting Stars Sports Club remains committed to protecting its contractual rights and will take all necessary steps in accordance with applicable football regulations.”
Players going AWOL is a recurring issue in the NPFL, as individuals often leave their clubs without permission to negotiate deals abroad. It remains to be seen whether Ayodele will eventually return to the club.
