The reigning Naija Super 8 champions Sporting Lagos have made the tough decision to part ways with head coach Paul Offor and his coaching staff after a fall-out over the club’s ambitions.
Offor, who helped guide Sporting Lagos to their first-ever season in the Nigeria Premier League and secured the club’s first trophy, has been demoted and ultimately let go due to disagreements with the board over player recruitment, tactics, and squad selection.
Sporting Lagos currently sits in 11th place on the NPFL table, with a record of 10 wins, 12 defeats, and 8 draws in 30 games. The team has struggled to secure an away win and recently suffered a loss in the Lagos FA Cup to Inter Lagos, one of their new rivals.
The club’s technical director, Paul Aigbogun, took over tactical duties during Offor’s demotion, but ultimately the rift between the coach and the board led to his departure. Offor’s refusal to sign South Sudanese midfielder Joseph Loro, among other player preference issues, contributed to his removal.
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The club released several players during the January transfer window, including Odafi Emmanuel, Saturday Okon, and Godwin Udoh, as they sought to revamp the squad under Offor’s leadership. However, Offor’s insistence on his own player choices over the club’s philosophy led to his dismissal.
Sporting Lagos announces the departure of Head Coach Paul Offor.
Coach Paul brought top-flight football back to our city and gave us the first piece of silverware in our history.
Thank you for everything, Coach Paul. We wish you the very best in your future endeavours. 🫶🏾💙… pic.twitter.com/Rcmua2GeDn
— Sporting Lagos (@SportingLagos) April 17, 2024
Despite their initial hopes to retain Offor, Sporting Lagos’ ambition for the club’s future success ultimately led to the decision to bring in former Kwara United manager Abdullahi Biffo to take over coaching duties.
In response to the decision, Offor stated, “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Sporting Lagos and I am proud of all we achieved together. I wish the club and the players all the best in the future.”
Sporting Lagos fans have expressed mixed reactions to the news, with some supporting the club’s decision to prioritize success and others lamenting the loss of a coach who brought them historic victories.
Moving forward, Sporting Lagos will look to Biffo to guide the team to further success and fulfill the club’s ambitions of competing at the highest level in Nigerian football.
