Sporting Lagos have emerged champions of the 2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) after edging city rivals Inter Lagos on goal difference at the end of the season-ending Super Four tournament in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The competition concluded on Friday at the Remo Stars Stadium with a dramatic Lagos derby that saw Inter Lagos defeat Sporting Lagos 1-0 on the final day.

Despite the loss, the “Tech Boys” still claimed the NNL title and the accompanying ₦10 million prize money after finishing top of the standings on superior goal difference.

Sporting Lagos entered the decisive Matchday Three needing only a draw to secure the crown, but their commanding earlier performances proved decisive. They had opened the Super Four campaign with a 1-0 victory over Ranchers Bees before producing the tournament’s most emphatic result with a 4-0 demolition of Doma United.

Inter Lagos also finished the competition on six points after recovering from an opening 1-0 defeat to Doma United. They responded with a 1-0 win over Ranchers Bees before securing the derby triumph against Sporting Lagos.

Ranchers Bees and Doma United finished third and fourth respectively, completing the quartet of clubs that have secured promotion to the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season.

For Sporting Lagos, the Super Four triumph represents a strong statement ahead of their return to top-flight football, while Inter Lagos will also head into the elite division with confidence after an impressive finish to the tournament.

The final day of the competition provided an entertaining atmosphere at the Remo Stars Stadium, with the well-organised event offering a glimpse of what fans can expect from the newly promoted clubs in the coming NPFL campaign.

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The Nigeria Football Federation has approved the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches of the country’s U20 and U17 boys’ national teams, respectively.

The appointments were endorsed by the NFF Executive Committee following recommendations from the Federation’s Technical and Development Committee.

Maikaba takes charge of the Flying Eagles after years of experience managing top clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The experienced tactician previously handled the Golden Eaglets and also served as assistant coach of the Flying Eagles during the tenure of Paul Aigbogun.

He has coached several prominent clubs, including Enyimba FC, Wikki Tourists FC, Kano Pillars FC and Plateau United FC. Maikaba is also remembered for leading Akwa United FC to victory in the 2017 Federation Cup, Nigeria’s oldest domestic football competition, now known as the President’s Federation Cup.

Uwejamomere, meanwhile, assumes responsibility for the Golden Eaglets.  He has worked for many years as a coach-analyst with the Super Eagles and also served in a similar role with the Super Falcons.

Eboboritse Uwejamomere as the Video Analyst for the Super Falcons during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Currently head of academy at Sporting Lagos FC, Uwejamomere has also gained valuable youth development experience in England with Millwall FC, Gillingham FC and Nottingham Forest FC. He also previously handled Abeokuta-based Stormers FC as head coach.

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In what could pass as a valedictory speech, the President of the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association, Godwin Enakhena, has sympathised with clubs relegated from the Nigeria National League, saying every team in the division encountered serious challenges during the just concluded season.

He will be making his valedictory appearance as the chairman of an NNL club this Friday in a local derby away from home as his Sporting Lagos clashes with Inter Lagos in the decider for the NNL title.

Godwin Enakhena is stepping out of the NNL back into the NPFL.

With the promotion of his club into the elite Nigerian football league, the NPFL, Enakhena will return to the calibre he had been before having earlier steered the MFM and the Sporting Lagos into the top-flight league years ago.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ikenne on Thursday, Enakhena said the campaign was demanding for promoted clubs, relegated sides and teams that managed to retain their status in the league.

According to him, survival in the NNL has become increasingly difficult because of the competitiveness and financial burden associated with the division.

The NALCOMA president also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Super Four tournament in Ikenne, describing it as an improvement on the previous Super Eight format.

He explained that the Super Four arrangement places less pressure on clubs and officials, adding that the atmosphere surrounding the competition in Ikenne has shown that a more compact format could better serve the interests of the league.

Enakhena commended members of NALCOMA for standing firmly behind the Super Four despite what he described as opposition from certain quarters.

Reflecting on the previous Super Eight competition in Asaba, the veteran sports administrator said the format was not the best way to determine promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, noting that important lessons have been learned from the ongoing exercise in Ikenne.

He reminded clubs that the league fundamentally belongs to them and urged stakeholders to continue working collectively for the development of the NNL.

Enakhena also charged NALCOMA members to remain united, stressing that only a strong and united association can effectively protect the interests of clubs and contribute to the growth of Nigerian football.

He advised clubs that secured promotion to the NPFL to prepare adequately for life in the top flight, insisting that promotion alone should not be the ultimate ambition.

“Qualification should not just be about getting there. Clubs must prove they are strong enough to compete effectively throughout the NPFL season,” he stated.

The NALCOMA president further called for a review of the association’s constitution to allow the president of the body and one additional member to become part of the NNL Board.

According to him, club owners are the major stakeholders in the league and deserve direct representation in decisions affecting the championship.

Enakhena also urged the Nigeria National League Board to continue working towards repositioning the league, while commending sponsors and partners, including Toptier Sports Management, ProStar and Betpawa, for their support for the league.

He concluded by appreciating members for their support and commitment to the association and urged incoming executives of NALCOMA to continue strengthening the body for the benefit of all clubs.

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