The Legacy Pitch Surulere, was a cauldron of excitement and culinary delights on Wednesday morning, as Day 3 of the Lagos Supremacy Cup served up a platter of goals, stunning upsets, and high-stakes drama. With international scouts keenly observing, young Nigerian footballers left everything on the pitch, resulting in a day of captivating action that culminated in the first finalist being decided.
The biggest headline of the day emerged from Group B, where the seemingly unstoppable Beyond Limits were handed their first defeat in a five-goal thriller against Real Sapphire. The Ikenne team, known for their clinical performances, found themselves on the back foot as Real Sapphire delivered the tournament’s biggest surprise.
Real Sapphire’s victory was a masterclass in attacking football. Tarpeh Xavier was the undeniable star, netting a brilliant two goals, ably supported by a crucial strike from Ijele Daniel. While Beyond Limits fought valiantly, with goals from Saka Yusuf and Adeboyejo Emmanuel, their efforts weren’t enough to contain the motivated Sapphire side, with the match concluding 3-2.
Despite the defeat, Beyond Limits’ earlier performances proved sufficient. They still secured the top spot in Group B with six points and a superior +2 goal difference, narrowly beating Tripple 44, who also amassed six points but finished with a goal difference of 0.
Ultimately, the team from Ikenne officially secured their spot in the final of the 2025 Lagos Supremacy Cup, showcasing consistency over the three match days.
In the other Group B fixture, Tripple 44 managed to edge out Broad City in a tight encounter. It took a late strike from Raji Biola to break the deadlock and secure a crucial 1-0 victory for Tripple 44, a result that kept them in contention until the very end.
The matches in Group A were characterized by competitive spirit and shared spoils, but the final standings were decided by the narrowest of margins.
The clash between familiar rivals, 36 Lion and Ikorodu City, lived up to its billing, ending in an exciting 2-2 draw.
36 Lion started strong, with Oluwafemi Opeyemi heading home an early opener. However, the ‘Oga Boys’ of Ikorodu City responded quickly through a well-placed strike from Abass Lawal.
Ikorodu City then took the lead with a superb, curled shot from Alao Taiwo. The match looked to be heading their way until Seun Lawal stepped up in the 68th minute and unleashed an impressive free kick that found the back of the net, ensuring the points were shared.
In the other fixture, Mavlon and Dosu Joseph FC battled to a closely contested 1-1 draw. Ezekiel Ogwu opened the scoring for Mavlon, but the lead was swiftly canceled out by the in-form Akindele Ayatu of Dosu Joseph FC. The result provided an exciting back-and-forth experience for the enthusiastic fans.
With the dust settled, Ikorodu City emerged as the Group A leaders with five points, demonstrating the necessary resilience to top the table. 36 Lion finished a close second with four points. The late equalizer against Ikorodu City, while dramatic, wasn’t enough to mask the pain of their narrow loss to Dosu Joseph FC on Match Day 1, a result that ultimately cost them the top spot.
The stage is now set for a gripping conclusion and Grand Finale. With Beyond Limits already through from Group B and with the conclusion of matches in Group A, Ikorodu City topped the table with five points, narrowly ahead of 36 Lion, who finished with four points. The Lagos Supremacy Cup continues to cement its reputation as a premier platform for young African talent.
Day 3 Results:
Broad City 0-1 Tripple 44
Beyond Limits 2-3 Real Sapphire
Mavlon FC 1-1 Dosu Joseph FC
36 Lion 2-2 Ikorodu City
