The pride of Lagos football is once again on full display—and this time, it’s in Ibadan.
Following dominant performances on the opening day of the Nationwide League One (NLO) Promotional Playoffs, the Technical Committee Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), Mr. Onadeko Adekeye, has lavished praise on the two Lagos-based clubs representing the state in the Ibadan Zone.
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Real Sapphire and Joy Cometh, both privately owned clubs, delivered convincing victories over seasoned opponents from Ogun State. Real Sapphire secured a commanding 2-0 win over Ebiede FC, while Joy Cometh edged Stormers FC 1-0, both matches played at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan on Thursday evening.
Speaking with a strong sense of pride, Keye (as he is popularly called) noted that these victories are more than just matchday wins—they are a testament to the structural growth of Lagos football.
“This is proof that Lagos football is doing something right,” he said. “Back-to-back qualifications for NLO playoffs and always returning with promotion tickets show the strength of our football ecosystem.”
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He went further to highlight a remarkable achievement from the previous year:
“Out of the four Southern teams that qualified for the NNL playoffs last year, Lagos presented three—and all of them were private teams. That was when Ikorodu City got qualification to the NPFL; before them, Sporting Lagos did it.”
Lagos Model: A Blueprint for National Success
The steady rise of private football clubs in Lagos is no coincidence. According to Adekeye, it stems from a strategic and deliberate effort driven by the LSFA under the leadership of Chairman Alhaji Liameed Gafar. The synergy between public governance and private participation is laying a sustainable foundation for long-term success.
The Lagos State Government has provided an enabling environment for football development, complemented by the LSFA’s robust programming. Numerous private initiative competitions—all endorsed by the FA—run alongside official tournaments organized by the LSFA itself.
“We just concluded the Youth League for both male and female teams,” Adekeye added. “Now the State League is in full swing for both genders.”
This active football calendar is clearly paying dividends.
Eyes on the Future: Lagos Aiming for NNL Expansion
With Lagos already boasting five clubs in the Nigeria National League (NNL), Adekeye is hopeful that the ongoing NLO playoffs will add two more.
“My expectation is to have two more teams join the NNL after these playoffs—all private clubs. If we keep pushing with this Lagos model, I believe within 10 years or even less, private teams will dominate the Nigerian elite league, and Lagos will be at the core of that transformation.”
As the two Lagos teams prepare for their next fixtures tomorrow inside the Adamasingba Stadium, Adekeye’s message is simple yet powerful:
“Let the better team win and bring the promotion ticket home. Lagos football is setting the pace.”
