Sporting Lagos emerged as the champions of the Naija Super 8 tournament after an exhilarating final held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos. Despite initially falling behind, Sporting Lagos staged an impressive comeback and held Remo Stars to a 1-1 draw, ultimately securing victory with a 4-2 penalty shootout win. As the winners, Sporting Lagos claimed the trophy and a prize of N25 million, while the runners-up, Remo Stars, received N9 million.
Sporting Lagos, a recently promoted team in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), showcased their prowess by outperforming more established opponents. Unlike Remo Stars, who had to qualify through the South-West zonal conference, Sporting Lagos received a wild card entry.
The Naija Super 8 is an off-season football tournament designed to reinvigorate local football and engage fans on a deeper level, with the aim of elevating the sport in the country. It is organized by Flykite Productions, endorsed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the NPFL, and introduces innovative elements to enhance its overall appeal.
The participating teams represent various regions across the country, and their selection involves a voting system that garnered over 1.9 million valid votes. Each zone produces two teams, leading to knockout matches to determine the representatives for the main tournament.
Sporting Lagos FC, founded in 2022 by Shola Akinlade, co-founder and CEO of Paystack, is a professional football club based in Lagos. Led by head coach Paul Offor and team manager Yemisi Cole, Sporting Lagos currently competes in the top tier of the Nigerian football league system, the NPFL, after gaining promotion from the Nigeria National League.
The news of Sporting Lagos’ victory generated reactions on social media, particularly on Twitter, with football fans expressing their opinions. Some praised the club’s ability to blend football with entertainment, considering Lagos’ reputation as an entertainment hub. Others suggested the privatization of Nigerian local clubs to increase excitement in the league.
Sporting Lagos’ winning goal was shared on Twitter, and numerous users celebrated their achievement. The victory highlighted the team’s ability to compete against more established clubs and created anticipation for their future performances in the top division.
Video: [Link to the video of Sporting Lagos lifting the trophy]
