2023/2024 NPFL Match Day 32: Newly Appointed Sporting Lagos FC Coach, Biffo, Promises to Maintain Winning Mentality

Posted : 30 April 2024

After seeing his side win a pulsating 4-2 victory over visitors Abia Warriors FC in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 32, as a first-timer on the bench for the first home match, the newly appointed coach of Sporting Lagos FC, Abdullahi Biffo, has promised to sustain the winning mentality.

The widely traveled coach said what is needed now is to maintain the winning streak to further push the Tech Boys up on the log of the 2023/2024 NPFL table.

"We need to sustain this winning mentality because that is what we need if we want to finish in a decent position on the NPFL table.

"We will work hard to see that this is achieved," he said.

Recall that the visiting Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia came up short in the pulsating Matchday 32 encounter, losing 2-4 to hosts Sporting Lagos at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

Coach Bethel Oji made four changes to the side that beat Plateau United by a lone goal in Umuahia, with Samson Obi and Paschal Nwabueze joining Sunday Megwo in attack, while Emmanuel Onu was restored to the starting eleven. Goodluck Ozioma paired with Prince Okorie at the heart of the defense.

The match lived up to its billing as Sporting Lagos got off to a flying start when Paschal Durugbor put them in front inside four minutes.

Just two minutes later, Paschal Nwabueze thought he had equalized for the Umuahia Warriors when he tapped in Sunday Megwo's header, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Abia Warriors and Sporting Lagos FC continued to mesmerize the crowd, but it was the homers, Sporting Lagos FC, against the run of play, who doubled their lead after the visitors' defense failed to deal with the home side's cross in the fifth minute of added time, with Junior Lokosa benefiting to make it 2-0 as the teams retired to the dressing room.

On the resumption of the second half, Abia Warriors gaffer, Bethel Oji, threw in Antoine Desouza and Jerry Ogu in place of Samson Obi and Aliyu Mohammed, respectively, in the 48th minute, and just a minute later, Megwo pulled one back for the visitors off a goal-mouth scramble.

Nine minutes later, the Warriors were on level terms as Prince Okorie rose the highest to head home Ojonugwa's corner kick.

A moment of laxity by the Warriors allowed Sporting Lagos to retake the lead through substitute Jonathan Alukwu in the 65th minute.

Abia Warriors had the chance to restore parity when they were awarded a penalty kick in the 71st minute of play after Onu was brought down in the 18-yard box, but Antoine Desouza's tame spot-kick was saved by the keeper.

The Warriors were made to pay for that miss when Jonathan Alukwu scored his second of the day from a devastating counter-attack to make it 4-2 to Sporting Lagos five minutes later.

Abia Warriors had their goalkeeper, Nmecha Johnson, to thank for keeping the damage down to the two-goal deficit after making two brilliant saves that wowed the spectators.

Up next for Abia Warriors is an FA Cup tie against Ilaji FC of Oyo State in Benin City.

2023/2024 NPFL Match Day 32: Newly Appointed Sporting Lagos FC Coach, Biffo, Promises to Maintain Winning Mentality

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