This is Sporting. This is Lagos

“We want to spend the next 40 years building generations of football talents in Nigeria.”

In Nigeria, a country where we’re different in so many ways, football is one of the biggest things that brings us together. The nation comes to a standstill when we gather and watch our famous Super Eagles represent us at the biggest stages in world football. We play it on the streets together. We argue about it together. We play FIFA together.

And at the heart of this football-loving nation is the beautiful city that never stops — Lagos. 

And it was in Lagos that a Sporting Lagos was born; founded by Shola Akinlade, with a mission to build generations of football talent and bring people together like never before.

2022

Sporting Lagos played its first official match in February 2022. For many people, this was a game — an opportunity to sit, relax and watch good football with friends. For us, it was the start of a generational move — one people would speak about and support forever.

Coached by Uche Okagbue and then Sanjo Olutayo, and captained by Atu, the club’s immediate footballing goal was to secure promotion from Nigeria’s second division, Nigeria National League (NNL), to its first division, Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Although we couldn’t hit that goal, we scratched the surface at building a community that cares about football and one another. Communities like our first ever fan club, The Happy Corner, and more passionate groups of fans began to show support for the club, and build interest in Nigerian club football... just like we wanted.

With a new season on the horizon, we’re taking another shot at qualifying for the NPFL. It won’t be easy, but with excellent players, an exceptional coaching team, and the unwavering support of its fans, we’re ready to take the league by storm. 

But this is about more than just football. It's about creating a brighter future for Nigeria. We’ve kicked off our dream of securing the future of football in Nigeria by recruiting and developing young the best talent from around the country, aged 15-17. 

This is Sporting. This is Lagos. 

2023

The 2023 NNL season kicked off with changes at Sporting Lagos. The establishment of our Youth Academy gave former head coach Sanjo Olutayo an opportunity to excel in his speciality of developing youngsters, and Coach Paul Offor took control of the first team as head coach.

Another change saw us secure cross-border payments solution company, Klasha as our first ever headline sponsor. This partnership saw us adorn their logo across the chest of our first ever home and away jerseys, which we launched at the start of the season — another change. 

Watch the story about our rebrand here.

Unlike our first season when we played our home games at Teslim Balogun Stadium, our home base in our second season was Onikan Stadium. We kicked off our season with a 2 - 1 away win against Lagos-based Smart City F.C.. 

Coach Paul’s gegenpressing and possession-based football saw us dominate our group, winning five, drawing three and losing only two of our games in the NNL that season — and scoring 16 goals in the process. That form saw us finish top of our group and qualify for promotion playoffs.

In that season, our players also made names for themselves with stellar performances that made many of them fan favourites for different reasons. Kalu Chikwuemeka and Chisom Orji scored beautiful goals, Patrick Egeonu and Emeka Nwokeji were solid in defense, Christian Nwoke made game-preserving saves, and Emmanuel Odafi and Henry Nnedi marshalled midfields.

2023 NNL Playoffs

Winning our first two games of the playoffs against F.C. One Rocket and Stormers S.C. meant we automatically got promoted to the NPFL just eighteen months after conception. It also meant we were the only Lagos team to feature in the NPFL that season and the first Lagos team in the NPFL in two years. 

The Naija Super 8, 2023

After securing promotion to the NPFL, we returned to Lagos to immediately participate in the maiden edition of the Naija Super 8, a pre-season tournament hosted at Onikan Stadium. While the competition was designed as an off-season event, it carried significant weight, especially for us — the only newly promoted team in the tournament.

With some of the giants of Nigerian football present, we were seen as underdogs. But on home soil, backed by passionate Lagosians, we exceeded expectations. Match after match, we rose to the occasion and ultimately lifted the trophy after a thrilling final against Remo Stars, decided by penalties. It was a memorable victory that marked another historic milestone for the club.

NPFL 2023/24

With spirits high and momentum on our side, we kicked off our debut NPFL season. Klasha remained our headline sponsor, and Coach Paul Offor continued to lead the team. We began strongly — winning our first-ever NPFL match against Gombe United. First away game? A hard-fought draw, and actually the only away point collected across the entire league that weekend. Sporting Lagos — table toppers in our first two weeks.

It felt like a dream. The fans were singing. The atmosphere was electric. Players like Junior Lokosa, Jonathan Aluku and Chinedu Ufere joined Christian Nwoke and Aliu Salawudeen to become instant favourites.

However, the season became increasingly challenging. Like many clubs, we struggled to secure points away from home, and soon, even our form at Onikan came under pressure. In response, we made adjustments, including large-scale recruitment and, towards the end of the season, the difficult decision to part ways with Coach Paul Offor. Coach Abdullahi Biffo was appointed as head coach as we fought to stabilise our position.

Despite memorable victories — including a standout 4-1 win over Remo Stars and wins against Enyimba and Kano Pillars — consistency proved elusive. The season unfolded as one of high emotions, marked by both remarkable highs and difficult setbacks. The fans, however, remained unwavering. Their support never wavered, at home or on the road.

The battle for survival went to the final day. We travelled to Ibadan needing a win against Shooting Stars and favourable results elsewhere. Unfortunately, the result did not go our way, and Sporting Lagos was relegated after just one season in the NPFL. It was sad and completely emotional, but it was iconic. The fans, standing in Ibadan, sang, “We love you, Sporting, we do”, as the final whistle blew. Nobody left early. Nobody stopped believing. That’s the kind of club we are.

Gothia Cup 2024

That same summer, our Academy got its first-ever invitation to the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden — the Youth World Cup. We had never been there. We had never even played in a European competition. Yet, under Coach Shola Adegun, we packed our bags, flew out, and the boys did the unthinkable.

We won it. The Gothia Puma Trophy.

In a tournament featuring top youth teams from around the world, including familiar Nigerian rivals Beyond Limits, Sporting Lagos Academy triumphed. The boys showcased character, talent, and resilience. It was a historic achievement, and it brought global attention and pride to the club.

It wasn’t just a trophy; it was a reminder. Even after the heartbreak of relegation, Sporting Lagos was still here. Still fighting. Still making history. It gave the fans — and honestly, all of us — something to smile about. Global recognition. A trophy. A statement.

Following the Gothia success, preparations began in earnest. The academy returned home focused on the upcoming TCC season, while the first team began rebuilding, laying the foundation for the next chapter.

This is Sporting. This is Lagos. And we move forward.