Real Sapphire Start Off Calendar Year on Winning Note

Real Sapphire avenged their December loss to Sporting Lagos by pipping them 2-1 in their first game of the year.

Eight minutes into the game, the hosts went ahead thanks to Ismail Adams who converted from the spot after Amole Bidemi was brought down.

What followed was a quiet period of the game where both sides created only a handful of chances.

Determined to start off the new year with a win, the hosts, in the 74th minute, struck again. Sporting Lagos’ high defense line was caught out by a through ball. Although an initial attempt was parried, the ball fell kindly to Xavier who nodded the ball into an empty net.

Sporting Lagos would pull one back in the sixth minute of stoppage time. But it was a little too late as the reigning champions opened their 2026 account with a win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Emmanuel Ilesanmi (Real Sapphire)

An influential presence from the first minute to the last.