Sporting Lagos F.C.

Sporting Lagos
Full nameSporting Lagos Football Club
NicknamesThe Noisy Lagosians
Blue and Yellow
The Tech Boys
Founded2022; 4 years ago (2022)
StadiumMobolaji Johnson Arena
Capacity10,000
OwnerShola Akinlade
ChairmanGodwin Enakhena
ManagerJeffrey Buter
LeagueNigeria Premier Football League
2025–26Nigeria National League, winners (promoted)
Websitehttps://sportinglagos.com

Sporting Lagos Football Club is a professional football club from Lagos, Nigeria founded in 2022. The club currently competes in the Nigeria Premier Football League, the first tier of Nigeria's football league system, following promotion from the 2025-2026 Nigeria National League. Sporting Lagos play their home games at Mobolaji Johnson Arena also known as Onikan Stadium.

History

Early beginnings

The club was founded on February 3, 2022, in Lagos, Nigeria by Shola Akinlade, Before this there were many clubs in the city, the most popular of which were Ikorodu United FC and Julius Berger FC.

Sporting Lagos played their first match on February 13, 2022, against Go Round FC, which ended in a 1–1. 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. He was replaced by Ibrahim Biffo who was also a coach at Kwara United, Katsina United, and Niger Tornadoes.

From NNL to Nigeria Football League (NPFL) (2022 – present)

Sporting secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the 2023/24 season. after a 2-0 victory over Stormers SC in their second game of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Eight playoff. 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.

In 2023–24, Sporting Lagos were relegated back to the NNL after they lost on the final matchday and finished in 17th place with 46 points. Sporting Lagos drew an average home attendance of 1,180 in the 2023–24 Nigeria Premier Football League.

On 28 June 2025, it was reported that the club's head coach, Shola Adegun, had left his role at the club to join Plateau United F.C. On 10 July 2025, the club confirmed his departure on their website, adding that Jeffery Buter would handle interim training. The club appointed Jeffrey Butter as head coach ahead of the new season.

Following the appointment of Jeffrey Buter, the club finished top of Southern Conference B in the 2025–26 season to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). They then topped the NNL Super Four playoffs on goal difference, winning the league and securing their first competitive title.

Sporting Lagos returned to the country's top-flight league, after two seasons in the second division.

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.[citation needed]

The Sporting Lagos away jersey has been all yellow shirts and yellow shorts. For the 2024/2025 season the club wore a white away jersey with black trims.

Stadium

Sporting Lagos originally played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in their first season before moving to the University of Lagos Stadium at the end of that campaign. The following season, the club relocated to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena — also known as Onikan Stadium and regarded as the oldest stadium in the country — where they have played ever since. Plans were later announced to build a new club-owned stadium at Landmark, but the project had to be discontinued due to the construction of the coastal highway.[citation needed]

Rivals

Sporting Lagos’ three main rivals are Remo Stars — a rivalry ignited after Sporting Lagos defeated Remo Stars twice in the Naija Super 8 preseason tournament, including in the final to clinch the title — Also Inter Lagos and Ikorodu City, their opponents in the Lagos Derbies.[citation needed]

Academy

The Sporting Lagos Football Academy was founded in 2023 and competes in the TCC League and Cup, as well as in the Nigeria Nationwide League (NLO), the third division of Nigerian football. The academy also participated in the NPFL Youth League while the club was in the NPFL.

In the 2023/2024 season, Yusuf Abdullahi, Ugochukwu Emmanuel, Adamu Mukhtar, Seun Akanji and Odinaka Okoro became the first set of academy players to feature for the first team in the Lagos FA Cup. That same season, Odinaka Okoro became the first academy player to represent the first team in an NPFL match, making his debut away against Heartland.

The academy achieved international recognition in 2024, winning the U17 male category of the Gothia Cup in Sweden.

Also in 2024, Edward Ochigbo and Samuel Umoh were invited to the Nigeria U15 team for the 3-Nation U15 Developmental Tournament in Rabat, Morocco. Ebenezer Harcourt and Odinaka Okoro later went on to represent Nigeria at U20 level, and in 2025, Ebenezer Harcourt became the youngest player to represent the Nigeria senior national team, making his debut at the age of 15. [citation needed]

Sponsorship

Season Kit Manufacturer Shirt Sponsor (chest) Shirt Sponsor (sleeve)
2023 Umbro Klasha _
2023-2024 Umbro Klasha ChopLife
2024-2025 Decimal Rexona ChopLife
2025-2026 Decimal _ _
2026-2027 Decimal Kuda Chowdeck

In 2023, the club revealed a new partnership with Klasha, a cross-border payments, and commerce platform in Africa, as its headline sponsor. At the start of the 2023-24 season, it also unveiled a new club logo and brand launch.

Squad

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  NGR Clinton Lawani
34 GK  NGR Usman Mohammed
35 GK  NGR Ebenezer Harcourt
2 DF  NGR Uloko Solomon (captain)
3 DF  NGR Hillary Zion
4 DF  NGR Sodiq Yusuf
5 DF  NGR Abraham Idakwo
12 DF  NGR Abdulrahman Mohammed
13 DF  NGR Odinaka Okoro
19 DF  NGR Isaac Annor
23 DF  NGR Chidera Okafor
27 DF  NGR Abdullahi Abdulraqeeb
33 DF  NGR Samuel Umoh
36 DF  NGR Solomon Adabo
6 MF  NGR Aondona Adeede
8 MF  NGR Valentine Ugwu
10 MF  NGR Victor Samuel
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  NGR Hadi Haruna
17 MF  NGR Lukman Adigun
18 MF  NGR Tamuno Kalio
22 MF  NGR Stanley Chukwu
24 MF  NGR Miebogo Azibato
26 MF  NGR Salihu Batunba
7 FW  NGR Kelvin Unenge
9 FW  NGR Aliyu Baba
11 FW  NGR Chinedu Sunday
14 FW  NGR Joel Ajibola
20 FW  NGR Ayoola Gafar
21 FW  NGR Sukanmi Odusina
25 FW  NGR Ibrahim Abdulganiyu
28 FW  NGR Daniel Aboh
30 FW  NGR Joseph Emmanuel
32 FW  NGR Fuad Ojediran

Club staff

Position Staff
Head coach Nigeria Jeffrey Buter
Team Manager Nigeria Yemisi Cole

Managerial history

Dates Name Notes
2022 Nigeria Uche Okagbue
2022 Nigeria Sanjo Olutayo
2023 – 2024 Nigeria Paul Offor
2024 Nigeria Abdullahi Biffo
2024 – 2025 Nigeria Shola Adegun
2025 - Nigeria Jeffrey Buter

References

  1. ↑ Salaudeen, Aisha (20 April 2022). "From fintech to football: With Sporting Lagos, Paystack's Shola Akinlade hopes to change the game in Nigeria". CNN. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  2. ↑ Oluwole, Victor (4 February 2022). "African fintech mogul and co-founder of Paystack, Shola Akinlade, launches Sporting Lagos Football Club". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  3. ↑ Shehu, Idris (3 February 2022). "Paystack's Shola Akinlade launches Sporting Lagos FC". TheCable. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ↑ Olorunmota, Olayoyin (22 July 2023). "Sporting Lagos: The Team Making Nigerian Local Football Cool Again". Zikoko!. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  5. ↑ Olorunmota, Olayoyin (22 July 2023). "Sporting Lagos: The Team Making Nigerian Local Football Cool Again". Zikoko!. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Why We Sacked Coach Paul Offor – Sporting Lagos". Leadership. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Adewale, Abiodun (17 April 2024). "Biffo replaces sacked Offor at Sporting Lagos". The Punch. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Naija Super 8, Insight to Expectations in NPL, Says Sporting Lagos Coach". This Day. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Shehu, Idris (3 July 2023). "Sporting Lagos gain promotion to NPFL -- one year after creation". TheCable. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "Sporting Lagos complete invincible run to clinch Naija Super 8 title against Remo Stars". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  11. ↑ "Naija Super 8: Sporting Lagos Beat Remo Stars To Be Crowned Champions - Africa Top Sports". 16 July 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  12. ↑ Oyebola, Mike (23 June 2024). "NPFL Standings: Sporting Lagos relegated to NNL without a single away win". Pulse Sports Nigeria. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  13. ↑ Oyebola, Mike (28 June 2025). "NPFL: Plateau United appoints new head coach, sporting director". Daily Post. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Uchejim, Joy (28 June 2025). "Plateau United Appoint Adegun as Head Coach, Izang as Sporting Director". TV360 Nigeria. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "Sporting Lagos FC". www.sportinglagos.com. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  16. ↑ SPORTS, BSN. "NNL 26: Sporting Lagos Announces New Head Coach". NNL 26: Sporting Lagos Announces New Head Coach. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  17. ↑ efosataiwo@vanguardngr.com (16 April 2026). "Sporting Lagos secure promotion to NPFL". Vanguard News. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Sporting Lagos unveils jersey sponsor, new logo". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  19. ↑ Agu, Ekene (1 March 2023). "SPORTING LAGOS FC ANNOUNCES KLASHA AS HEADLINE PARTNER". SportingLagos.Com. Lagos. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sporting Lagos unveils jersey sponsor, new logo". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  21. ↑ "Sporting Lagos FC". www.sportinglagos.com. Retrieved 18 November 2025.