Sporting Lagos F.C. Explained

Clubname:Sporting Lagos FC
Fullname:Sporting Lagos Football Club
Nickname:"The Noisy Lagosians"
"Blue and Yellow"
Stadium:Mobolaji Johnson Arena
Capacity:10,000
Owner:Shola Akinlade
Manager:Abdullahi Biffo [1]
Chairman:Godwin Enakhena
League:Nigeria Professional Football League
Season:2023–24
Position:Nigeria Premier Football League, 17th (Relegated)
Website:https://sportinglagos.com
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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]

History

Early beginnings

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)

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. In June 2024, with a low tally of 46 points.

Sponsorship

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

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.

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

Squad

First-team squad

Club Staff

PositionStaff
Head Coach Abdullahi Biffo
Team Manager Yemisi Cole

Managerial history

DatesNameNotes
2022 Uche Okagbue
2022 Sanjo Olutayo
2023 – 2024 Paul Offor
2024 - Abdullahi Biffo

External links

Notes and References

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