Sporting Lagos Will Compete in NPFL, Coach Buter Assures Fan

Sporting Lagos coach Jeffery Buter is optimistic that the club will be up to the competition in the Nigeria Premier Football League as they prepare to compete in the top flight for the second time in their history, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Buter assured the fans that they could dream again after guiding the club to the ValueJet Pre-Season title in Ikenne on Sunday.

Sporting Lagos beat Remo Stars 2-1, courtesy of second-half goals from Aliyu Baba and Sodiq Ayoade, while Taiwo Oyetunde scored Remo Stars’ only goal.

The Lagosians were unbeaten on their way to the final, overcoming Abia Warriors twice, beating Shooting Stars and Remo Stars, with a goalless draw against Rivers United sandwiched between the results.

With the tournament now concluded, Sporting Lagos will carry their ValueJet Cup success into preparations for the new NPFL season as they look to build on their impressive off-season campaign.

“It was the test we were looking for. We just got promoted to the NPFL after two seasons away. Competing against the best teams in the country, three teams on the continent and a very good Remo team shows the level that we are at, and I think we can even get better,” Buter said.

“We are beginning to pick up the habit of winning in difficult places. The whole of last season, we won five away games, and we have won the championship on the grounds of the opponents.” For the boys, it’s a really good test for them to keep their mentality even after we conceded.

“It’s a league, it’s 38 games, we are going to compete, and I think the fans can dream this season.”

Sporting Lagos were relegated in 2024 after just one season in the top flight. Buter was appointed as the team’s coach in 2025 and successfully led them back to the top flight.

After spending two seasons in the lower division, they returned to the NPFL in May, sealing their promotion with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Osun United in Ilogbo on the final day of the regular season.

They will begin life in the NPFL again on August 30 with an away trip to Gombe, where they will face Doma United.