Newly promoted Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) sides, Sporting Lagos and Katsina United, produced resolute performances yesterday to defeat league 2023 league champions and runner-up in their Naija Super 8 Group B encounters at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
Both Katsina United and Sporting Lagos recorded an identical 2-1 win respectively against Enyimba International and Remo Stars .
The defeat ended Enyimba’s participation in the tournament while Remo Stars’ hope of qualification hangs in the balance.
In the fierce South-West derby, Remo Stars opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Frank Muawena.
Few minutes later, they were punished as Saturday Okon rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into an empty net to draw Sporting Lagos level in the 27th minute.
Thereafter, the NPFL runner-up mounted pressure on the Sporting Lagos goal, but were repelled by resolute defending and some brilliant goalkeeping.
Just as the game looked set for a draw, a long ball down the field caught Remo Stars’ defence napping. A clumsy challenge by Victor Collins in the box gifted Sporting Lagos a penalty in the 88th minute which Chiemeka Nwokeji converted from a rebound after his initial kick was saved by the goalkeeper.
Remo Stars coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, lamented over the loss saying: “We dominated the game. Every moment was ours. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take our chances. A little lack of concentration from our centerback allowing the ball to bounce in the box, led to the penalty. Kudos to Sporting Lagos, they didn’t want to lose and luckily they got the win.”
Commenting on the big victory, Sporting Lagos coach, Paul Offor said his team will not get carried away with the results they have achieved in the competition.
He said: “This competition is a great opportunity for us as a team that just qualified for the NPFL to play teams like league champions, Enyimba and runner-up, Remo Stars. Today, we played a team that didn’t allow us to play out from the back the way we like to do. So we suffered a lot coping with the press.
“We will have to work on this because this is the kind of opposition we will be facing every week in the league. We can’t get carried away with the results we’ve achieved against the two big teams. We have a lot of work to do. We could have lost, but somehow we are able to stay in the game to snatch the win.”
Meanwhile, the first half between Katsina United and Enyimba produced little goal-mouth action. The second half started on an attacking note. Following a sweet counter attack, new signing, Ibrahim Yahya, produced a beautiful curling shot from the edge of the box to put Katsina United ahead in 53rd minute. Five minutes later, another counter attack by Katsina United led to a penalty, which was coolly dispatched by Nazifi Yahaya.
Enyimba pulled a goal back through a well-taken freekick by Fatai Abdullahi in the 89th minute, but Katsina United held on to secure their first win in the tournament.
An elated Katsina United coach, Usman Abdallah said: “Enyimba came all out and we came all out. We had to win to stay in the competition and we got it. The boys did really well. This tournament is a good one for us. It gives exposure to our players. You can see how determined they are, knowing the world is watching them.”
Katsina United are top of the table on goal difference with four points from two games. Sporting Lagos are second with four points from two games. Remo Stars are third with four points from three matches, while Enyimba ammased just one point from their three games.
Action will continue in Group B today when Lobi Stars take on Akwa United at 2pm and Rivers United face Yobe Desert Stars at 4:30pm.
Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsors, MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance.