Lagos derby to be played in Nigeria’s top division for the first time in 10 years
In Lagos, Nigeria, Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos are set to play the first city derby in the country’s top football division in ten years on September 13. The third-round Nigeria Premier Football League match will take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the previous Lagos derby in the elite division took place on July 3, 2016. MFM FC then defeated Ikorodu United 3-1: Sikiru Olatunbosun scored twice, Stephen Odey added another goal, while Fatai Abdullahi converted a penalty for Ikorodu United.
First meeting in the NPFL
The Inter Lagos vs Sporting Lagos match will be the teams’ first head-to-head meeting in the NPFL. They previously played each other in friendly matches and in the second-tier division. Before the game, Inter Lagos reported an unbeaten run in their previous four matches against their opponent: three wins and one draw.
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Initially, the Sporting Lagos vs Ikorodu City match in the second round was meant to become the first city derby in a decade. It was postponed because the Mobolaji Johnson Arena was unavailable, as it hosted a political rally.
Season start
Inter Lagos lost their first two matches of their debut NPFL season: 1-2 to Shooting Stars and 0-1 to Doma United. Sporting Lagos played one match and lost 0-2 to Doma United, while their second-round match against Ikorodu City was postponed.
Before the derby, both clubs occupy the bottom two positions in the table, with Inter Lagos having played one match more. Doma United, which defeated both Lagos teams, leads the championship after three matches with nine points and a 5-0 goal difference. In the third round, the club also beat nine-time Nigerian champion Enyimba 2-0.
