Nigeria, Aug. 18 -- When Nurudeen Aweroro stepped up from assistant to head coach at Ikorodu City after Bright Ozagbe's resignation, few imagined he would turn the modest Lagos side into one of the most admired outfits in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Within a season, Ikorodu City were no longer pushovers but one of the league's most organised and attack-conscious teams; a side that pressed high, moved the ball quickly, and played with fearless ambition. Neutrals were won over, heavyweights were rattled, and suddenly, Aweroro was being talked about as one of the NPFL's brightest young tacticians.

Now, the 3SC faithful in Ibadan are daring to believe that the same high-tempo, possession-based, quick-transition blueprint can...