Sporting Lagos technical adviser Jeffery Buter says his team is ready for the challenge of facing Abia Warriors as they look to build on their first win of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
The Lagos-based side will welcome Abia Warriors to the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, on Sunday, September 20, with Buter keen to see his players maintain the momentum from their impressive derby victory.
Sporting Lagos secured their first three points of the campaign with a convincing 3–0 victory over Inter Lagos in their last outing.
The result gave the team a much-needed boost after they began the season with a 2–0 defeat to Doma United.
Despite the importance of the victory over Inter Lagos, Buter believes his players must quickly move on and concentrate on their next assignment.
The Sporting Lagos coach stressed the importance of taking the season one match at a time, with Abia Warriors now the immediate challenge.
“It’s important that we keep up with the impressive performance. We have to take it one game at a time,” Buter said, according to reports from Daily Post and Complete Sports.
The message reflects the need for Sporting Lagos to avoid becoming complacent after their derby success.
The 3–0 victory was an encouraging performance, but maintaining consistency will be more important as the season develops.
Sporting Lagos currently have three points from their opening two matches, their campaign started with a difficult away trip to Doma United, where they suffered a 2–0 defeat.
They responded strongly against Inter Lagos, producing a three-goal performance to claim their first victory, the challenge now is to turn that result into a run of positive performances.
The official NPFL fixture list confirms that Sporting Lagos will face Abia Warriors at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on September 20.
Buter will therefore be hoping his players can carry the confidence from the derby into their next home fixture.
Abia Warriors will arrive in Lagos looking to improve on their recent result after playing out a 2–2 draw against Ikorodu City.
The Umuahia-based club had taken the lead in that Matchday 3 encounter but eventually had to settle for a point.
That result leaves the visitors with their own reasons to push for a positive result against Sporting Lagos.
With both sides looking to build momentum, Sunday’s meeting could provide another test of Sporting Lagos’ ability to compete consistently against established NPFL opposition.
The Sporting Lagos technical adviser also pointed to a demanding period ahead for his players.
Buter noted that the team will have four matches within 10 days later in the month, making squad management and consistency particularly important.
That schedule could test the depth of the Sporting Lagos squad.
For a team hoping to establish itself as a competitive force in the NPFL, managing such a congested run will require players to remain fit and focused.
Buter will also have to ensure that the team does not lose momentum when rotation becomes necessary.
The victory over Inter Lagos showed what Sporting Lagos can produce when they find their rhythm.
However, the Abia Warriors game will offer a different challenge, sporting Lagos must now show that the derby victory was not an isolated performance but part of a more consistent approach to the season.
Playing at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena could provide an added boost, but the players will still need to execute Buter’s plans on the pitch.
The coach’s emphasis on taking each game as it comes suggests the team is focused on steady progress rather than looking too far ahead.
Sporting Lagos’ meeting with Abia Warriors is another opportunity for the club to strengthen its position early in the campaign.
A positive result would give Buter’s team greater confidence heading into a busy period of fixtures.
For Abia Warriors, the match represents a chance to respond after their 2–2 draw with Ikorodu City.
With both teams seeking consistency, the fixture promises to be another interesting test in the early stages of the 2026/27 NPFL season.
For Buter and Sporting Lagos, the objective is clear: build on the derby win, stay focused and keep moving forward one match at a time.
