The Gold Cup pre-season tournament knockout stage will kick start on Thursday with the two semi-finals at the FC Ebedei Stadium at Apele-Sagamu.
After successfully navigating a demanding group stage, showcasing quality and brand of football, Sporting Lagos, Crown FC, Lobi Stars and FC Ebedei face new challenges as the tournament enters its most decisive stage.
Sporting Lagos, Crown FC and FC Ebedei have emerged as the standout teams of the competition, recording 9points each from matches, but respectively suffered a loss each in the group stage.
While former champions Lobi Stars, the only team with the most goals scored, 9, will hope not to get complacent going forward.
As the 13th edition of the nation’s premier pre-season showpiece takes shape with Thursday’s first semi-final at 8am, Lobi Stars will battle Sporting Lagos for a spot in the final on Saturday, in what promises to be a test of tactical maturity and attacking depth.
The pairing rekindles the rivalry between the former Nigeria Premier League (NPFL) teams. The only two matches between Lobi Stars and Sporting Lagos in the 2023–24 NPFL season. Lobi Stars won the first match in November 2023, and the second match in April 2024 ended in a draw, thus giving Bala Abubakar the lead over Jeffery Buter’s impressive team.
In the second semi-final at 3pm, FC Ebedei will hope to continue with their giant-killer status, as they will have their hands full against Crown FC.
The Oliseh Boys will be banking on the leading top scorer of the 2025 Gold Cup, Kennedy John for goals, and also hope that the strike partnership of Olanshile Lawal and Miracle Osakeni can rediscover their scoring form.
Tunde Shamsudeen, General Coordinator of Gold Cup shares his thoughts on the blockbuster semi-final parings.
“Congratulations to the last teams standing and the other six, that have exited the tourney. The 13th edition has lived up to its hype looking at the teams that have made it, this far with 17 wins and a total of 49 amazing goals scored.
“With no room for excuses, top level of football is expected from the four teams as they have used the group matches as a learning experience.
“Anxious fans should expect the best from the teams, while we get set to wrap up the football fiesta we started last week seamlessly.”
