Wikipedia

Sporting Lagos F.C.

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Sporting Lagos FC is a professional football club from Lagos, Nigeria founded in 2022.[2][3][4] The club currently competes in the Nigeria National League. the second tier of Nigeria's football league system,[5] following relegation from the 2023–24 Nigeria Premier League.[6][7] Nicknamed "The Tech Boys", Sporting Lagos played their home games at Mobolaji Johnson Arena also known as Onika Stadium.[8]

Sporting Lagos FC
Full nameSporting Lagos Football Club
Nickname(s)"The Noisy Lagosians"
"Blue and Yellow"
Founded2022; 2 years ago (2022)
StadiumMobolaji Johnson Arena
Capacity10,000
OwnerShola Akinlade
ChairmanGodwin Enakhena
ManagerAbdullahi Biffo [1]
LeagueNigeria Professional Football League
2023–24Nigeria Premier Football League, 17th (Relegated)
Websitehttps://sportinglagos.com

History

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Early beginnings

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The club was founded on February 3, 2022, in Lagos, Nigeria by Shola Akinlade,[9][10] Before this there were many clubs in the city, the most popular of which were Ikorodu United FC and Julius Berger FC.[11][12]

Sporting Lagos played their first match on February 13, 2022, a match against Go Round FC of Rivers State, which ended in a 1–1.[13] The team finished second in their group in the (NNL) Super Eight playoff in its second season and joined the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the start of the 2023–24 season. In 2022 Paul Offor was appointed manager. He led Sporting Lagos to its first Cup title in 2023 and promotion to the NPFL, before been sacked in April 2024.[14] and was replaced by Ibrahim Biffo who was also a coach at Kwara United, Katsina United, and Niger Tornadoes.[15]

From NNL to Nigeria Football League (NPFL) (2022 – present)

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Sporting secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the 2023/24 season.[16] after a 2-0 victory over Stormers SC in their second game of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Eight playoff.[17] before winning the Championship title of the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8 pre-season tournament following a 4–2 victory at local rivals Remo Stars F.C.[18][19]

In 2023–24, Sporting Lagos were relegated back to the NNL after they lost on the final matchday and finished in 17th place.[8] In June 2024, with a low tally of 46 points.

Sponsorship

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Period Brand Shirt Sponsor (chest) Shirt Sponsor (sleeve)
2023– Umbro Klasha ChopLife

In 2023, the club revealed a new partnership with Klasha, a cross-border payments, and commerce platform in Africa, as its headline sponsor.[20] At the start of the 2023-24 season, it also unveiled a new club logo and brand launch.[21]

Colours and badge

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Its home colours have been neon blue and pantone blue. When the club was founded in 2022, blue shirts were used until the club adopted its new colour of neon blue and Pantone blue in 2023. The city's symbol was adopted as the club's badge (or crest), and was incorporated into the kit in 2023 during the start of the 2023-24 season.[citation needed]

The Sporting Lagos away jersey has been all yellow shirts and yellow shorts.[22]

Squad

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First-team squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   NGA Agbor Ekoi
27 GK   NGA Christian Nwoke
3 DF   NGA Ini Edem
5 DF   NGA Aliu Salawudeen
19 DF   NGA Mike Zaruma
6 DF   NGA Ejike Uzoechi
24 DF   NGA Chiemeka Nwokeji
2 DF   NGA Issac Annor
15 DF   NGA Patrick Egeonu
4 DF   NGA Ekene Olisema
14 MF   NGA Wisdom Fernando
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 MF   NGA Vincent Akpikpi
8 MF   NGA Chinedu Ufere
18 MF   NGA Henry Ndedi
20 MF   NGA Rivio Ayemwenre
31 MF   NGA Philip Odubia
35 MF   NGA Muhammad Jamil
10 FW   NGA Godwin Odibo
25 MF   NGA Henry Nnamdi
16 GK   NGA Nathaniel Asibe
7 FW   NGA Clement Naantaum
22 FW   NGA Paschal Durugbor
13 FW   NGA Akpesiri Naibe
21 FW   NGA Junior Lokosa

Club Staff

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Position Staff
Head Coach   Abdullahi Biffo
Team Manager   Yemisi Cole

Managerial history

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Dates Name Notes
2022   Uche Okagbue
2022   Sanjo Olutayo
2023 – 2024   Paul Offor
2024   Abdullahi Biffo

References

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  1. ^ "NPFL: Sporting Lagos confirm Biffo as new head coach". Premiumtimes. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  2. ^ Aisha Salaudeen (20 April 2022). "From fintech to football: With Sporting Lagos, Paystack's Shola Akinlade hopes to change the game in Nigeria". CNN. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
  3. ^ "Paystack's Shola Akinlade launches Sporting Lagos FC". TheCable. 2022-02-03. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  4. ^ Abayomi, Tosin (2022-02-04). "African fintech mogul Shola Akinlade launches Sporting Lagos Football Club". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  5. ^ "'Watch out! Sporting Lagos FC is here to change the narrative'". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
  6. ^ Oyebola, Mike (2024-06-23). "NPFL final day: Sporting Lagos, Doma United relegated". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  7. ^ Taiwo, Efosa (June 23, 2024). "NPFL: Sporting Lagos relegated after one season in topflight". vanguardngr.
  8. ^ a b "NPFL Standings: Sporting Lagos relegated to NNL without a single away win". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 2024-06-23. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  9. ^ Salaudeen, Aisha (2022-04-20). "From fintech to football: With Sporting Lagos, Paystack's Shola Akinlade hopes to change the game in Nigeria". CNN. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  10. ^ Oluwole, Victor (2022-02-04). "African fintech mogul and co-founder of Paystack, Shola Akinlade, launches Sporting Lagos Football Club". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  11. ^ Shehu, Idris (2022-02-03). "Paystack's Shola Akinlade launches Sporting Lagos FC". TheCable. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  12. ^ Olorunmota, Olayoyin (2023-07-22). "Sporting Lagos: The Team Making Nigerian Local Football Cool Again". Zikoko!. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  13. ^ Olorunmota, Olayoyin (2023-07-22). "Sporting Lagos: The Team Making Nigerian Local Football Cool Again". Zikoko!. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  14. ^ "Why We Sacked Coach Paul Offor – Sporting Lagos". 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  15. ^ Adewale, Abiodun (2024-04-17). "Biffo replaces sacked Offor at Sporting Lagos". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  16. ^ "Naija Super 8, Insight to Expectations in NPL, Says Sporting Lagos Coach – THISDAYLIVE". thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  17. ^ Shehu, Idris (2023-07-03). "Sporting Lagos gain promotion to NPFL -- one year after creation". TheCable. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  18. ^ "Sporting Lagos complete invincible run to clinch Naija Super 8 title against Remo Stars". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  19. ^ "Naija Super 8: Sporting Lagos Beat Remo Stars To Be Crowned Champions - Africa Top Sports". 2023-07-16. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  20. ^ Agu, Ekene (1 March 2023). "SPORTING LAGOS FC ANNOUNCES KLASHA AS HEADLINE PARTNER". SportingLagos.Com. Lagos. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Sporting Lagos unveils jersey sponsor, new logo". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
  22. ^ "Sporting Lagos unveils jersey sponsor, new logo". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
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