Sporting Lagos made history by becoming the first Nigerian club to win a trophy at the Gothia Cup, claiming the B17E championship title with a dominant performance against FC Tokyo.
In their debut appearance, Sporting Lagos quickly established themselves as one of the teams to beat in the competition. Their dominance was evident from the outset, as they took control of the match early on.
The Lagos-based team struck first in the ninth minute when Yusuf Abdullahi capitalized on a defensive lapse, slotting the ball past the helpless FC Tokyo goalkeeper. Ten minutes later, Babatunde Akomolede doubled the lead with a stunning strike from outside the box, leaving the Japanese goalkeeper with no chance. Sporting Lagos went into halftime with a commanding 2-0 lead.
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In the second half, Sporting Lagos continued to create chances offensively while remaining solid defensively. In the 55th minute, Lucky John followed up on a rebound and tapped the ball into the net for the third goal, effectively putting the game out of reach for FC Tokyo.
Sporting Lagos wasn’t done yet; they added another goal to their tally, securing a resounding 4-0 victory and the B17E championship title.
Babatunde Akomolede was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for his outstanding exploits throughout the tournament. He expressed his delight, saying, “The team’s performance was excellent, just perfect. I don’t know how to describe the joy I am feeling right now. It’s just too much.”
On their way to lifting the championship, Sporting Lagos also defeated fellow Nigerian outfit Beyond Limits in an all-Nigerian semifinal. This victory marks a significant achievement for the club and highlights the growing talent in Nigerian football.
