Sporting Lagos have been crowned champions of the Nigeria National League (NNL), finishing top of the Super 4 standings on goal difference.
The Lagos-based club secured the title despite suffering a 1-0 defeat to city rivals Inter Lagos in the decisive Lagos Derby played on Friday at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikene.
Sporting Lagos entered the final round of the NNL Super 4 playoffs with six points from their opening two matches and required only a draw to clinch the title outright. Inter Lagos, however, still had a mathematical chance of winning the championship if they could overturn Sporting’s superior goal difference.
Inter Lagos made a strong start and took the lead in the seventh minute through Hassan Bashiru, who beat his marker before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Gafar Olaniyan.
Despite conceding early, Sporting Lagos managed to contain further pressure and kept the scoreline at 1-0, which proved enough to preserve their goal difference advantage.
Jeffery Butler’s side eventually finished the tournament with a plus-four goal difference, two better than Inter Lagos, to secure the championship.
The triumph marks Sporting Lagos’ first Nigeria National League title and the fifth trophy in the club’s history since its establishment in 2022.
They also succeed Beyond Limits, the Remo Stars academy side, as champions of the league.
Both Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos are expected to renew their rivalry in the Nigeria Premier Football League next season.
