Naija Super 8: Sporting Edge Remo Stars On Penalties To Lift Trophy

• Sporting FC Lagos won the inaugural Naija Super 8 tournament on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time
• The home team dominated the early stages and could have gone ahead as early as the 11th minute
• The match went to extra time after Adams Olamilekan equalized for Remo Stars in the second half of added time

Sporting FC Lagos won the inaugural Naija Super 8 tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena Lagos yesterday, defeating Remo Stars 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

The home team dominated the early stages and could have gone ahead as early as the 11th minute when Saturday Okon unleashed a scorcher from 20 yards. Still, Remo Stars goalkeeper Bankole Kayode tipped the ball over for the match’s first corner kick.

Remo Stars responded in the 19th minute when lanky striker Isaac James lifted his head highest to head at goal but was denied by the crossbar.

Odafi Onyemachi, Sporting’s diminutive midfielder, also came close to breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute, but his shot narrowly missed the target.

Saturday, Okon got on the end of a Rivio Anyehwere cross but couldn’t find the back of the net a minute before the break.

After the restart, both teams continued to look for the opening goal, which came in the 54th minute when Sporting’s defender Aliu Salaudeen reacted quickest in a goalmouth melee to put Sporting ahead.

The hosts appeared to be on their way to victory until the introduction of Adams Olamilekan caused them all sorts of problems.

In the 86th minute, the youngster thought he had equalised for Remo, but his goal was ruled offside.

However, the former Lobi Stars striker struck again in the second half of added time to send the game to extra time, where Sporting held on to win their first major trophy two years after their inception.