Sporting Lagos and Remo Stars went head to head in a feisty battle on Sunday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, to decide who walked home with a whooping sum of 25 million naira and the Naija Super 8 trophy.

Sporting Lagos went from being a wildcard to shrugging off Remo Stars in the final, after a 4-2 win via a penalty shootout. It was a Naija Super 8 SouthWest derby for the second time in the competition and Sporting got the better of Remo on both occasions.

The first 45 saw no goals. After the break, Aliu Salawudeen swooped in and gave the Lagos-based side a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute. Olamilekan pulled one back for Remo Stars in the 93rd minute in what looked like redemption but it was not to be.

The game ended one apiece in regulation time and went to penalties where Sporting Lagos took total control, with goalkeeper Christian Nwoke making two saves and leading his team to a 4-2 victory.

In a post-match press conference, Sporting Lagos coach, Paul Offor said “we came to this competition and we were fortunate to play the best teams in the country”.

“To be champions is amazing for us. We gained promotion this season, and we also won our first trophy as a club. What I saw today was massive.

“Moments in the game I looked at the crowd and I was stunned. Organisers of this competition should be proud of themselves. Their ability to organise this and pull the crowd like they did.”

“This is football, with passion. This is how it should be. The fans love it and the players love it. I hope this tournament will continue.” 

Sporting Lagos was founded in 2022 and has been able to secure top-flight football and emerge victorious in the pre-season Naija Super 8 competition.