TheCable

Sporting Lagos FC have won the 2023 Naija Super 8 championship. 

The Paul Offor-led boys defeated Remo Stars 4-2 on penalties to win the tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Sunday. 

The two teams had previously met in the early stages of the competition with Sporting winning the encounter 2-1. 

However, the final match bore scant resemblance to the previous meeting as a packed stadium cheering on. 

In the early stage, the match was cagey with both teams struggling to establish a foothold. 

Isaac James came closest to scoring in the first half but his header clattered off the woodwork, denying Remo Stars an early lead. 

The match, however, opened up in the second half as Sporting Lagos struck the first blow. 

Jonathan Alukwu rose highest to meet a free kick delivery and his header ricocheted into the path of Aliu Salawudeen who stabbed the ball into the net. 

Remo Stars equalised deep into stoppage time as Adam Olamilekan reacted quickest and turned in a shot from Sikiru Alimi. 

The game went to penalty shootouts.

Remo Stars’ Nduka Harrison and Ismail Sodiq failed to send their kicks past Christian Nwoke, who sealed the victory for Sporting Lagos. 

The winners of the competition will get N25 million while the second runner-up goes home with N9 million.