By Felix Kuyinu
Lagos base club side, Sporting Lagos have clinched victory in their penultimate game of the season following a 2-1 win over outsted league contestants, Eyimba FC of Aba, at the Mobolaji Johnson stadium, Onikan Lagos on Sunday.
With both sides knowing a loss would extinguish their targets as the season gets to it’s latter stages, The Noisy Lagosians, who are in a relegation survival scare, having missed a penalty in the 4th minute took a hard-fought first half stoppage time lead through Godwin Odibo, who earlier won the missed penalty.
Both teams created scoring chances in a tensed second stanza but not untill the 73rd minute did the game register another goal. Mbaoma Chijioke gave the People’s Elephant a feint hope of a win in the game by scoring the equalizer to add more misery on Sporting Lagos’ relegation hopes and also reignite Eyimba’s chances of leapfrogging Enugu Rangers in the fight for the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, title.
But after 12 minutes of the game tied at 1-1, Jonathan Alukwu scored the winner to send the Mobolaji Johnson Arena into a boisterous jubilation.
The game ended 2-1 in favour of Sporting Lagos to put an end to Eyimba’s title pursuit as Enugu Rangers, who won at home against Bendel Insurance, were crowned champions of the NPFL 2023/24 season.
For Sporting Lagos, the battle continues in their quest to escape relegation. The victory puts them 17th on the log – a relegation spot, with 46 points after 37 matches having won 12, drawn 10 and lost 15 games.
Other relegation strugglers Doma FC and Akwa United have 43 and 46 points respectively, albeit, the former having a game in hand.
Interestingly, teams from the 11th position can still go down relegated, although many of them have a better goal difference than the trio clubs.
Sporting Lagos have a must win game in week 38 of the away at Shooting Stars in Ibadan. The Noise Lagosians must not only win but better the goal difference of other relegation threatened side or they will risk going down to the lower division next season.
A win takes them to 49 points currently held by Kano Pillars and Sunshine Stars in positions 11th and 12th positions but a better goal difference would place the Lagosians a better ranking.
Sporting Lagos have an enormous task in their hands on the final day of the season. The game against Shooting Stars is scheduled to be held on 23rd of June, 5pm.
