Sporting Lagos bowed out of the NNL Super 8 race in heartbreaking fashion after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Solution FC, despite a heroic hat trick from Aliu Baba.
A stoppage-time equalizer from Solution FC crushed Lagos’ hopes, ending their campaign just short of qualification in a pulsating season finale.
Sporting Lagos saw their dreams of reaching the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 shattered heartbreakingly on Sunday, despite a sensational hat trick by star forward Aliu Baba in a 3-3 draw against Solution FC at the Awka City Stadium.
In what turned out to be a pulsating encounter brimming with passion, drama, and late-game heartbreak, Sporting Lagos came into the tie needing a win to boost their chances of Super 8 qualification. But after an emotional rollercoaster of a match, they were forced to settle for a point that proved insufficient, ultimately finishing third in Conference B behind Kun Khalifa and Osun United.
Aliu Baba got Sporting Lagos off to a flying start in the 29th minute, latching onto a loose ball before calmly slotting it past the Solution FC goalkeeper. The early goal set the tone for what promised to be a thrilling contest, as Sporting Lagos looked to build on their advantage heading into halftime.
However, the second half saw a resurgent Solution FC take control. Just five minutes after the restart, Chukwuemeka Oyieke stunned the visitors with a rocket from outside the box that left Sporting goalkeeper Clinton Lawani helpless. The momentum shifted quickly as Solution FC was awarded a penalty minutes later after a handball incident in the box. Valentine Ugwu stepped up and sent Lawani the wrong way, giving the home side a 2-1 lead.
Sporting Lagos, refusing to back down, found their equalizer through Baba in the 64th minute. Rising highest in the box, he nodded in a well-placed cross to bring the game level once again. The Lagos side pressed for a winner, and in the third minute of stoppage time, it seemed Baba had delivered the decisive blow. With a moment of individual brilliance, he volleyed home his third goal of the match to complete a memorable hat-trick and what looked like a heroic comeback win.
But football can be cruel. Just a minute later, Solution FC’s Divine Victor broke Lagos hearts with a dramatic late strike in the 94th minute, salvaging a draw for the home team and denying Sporting Lagos the three points they desperately needed.
Sporting Lagos head coach Shola Adegun was visibly distraught after the final whistle. “It is a painful one. We were really close to losing it right at the end. It’s difficult to wrap your brain around it, honestly, when you score a vital goal in injury time,” he said. “It’s a difficult ending to the season for us. It’s hard to say anything more than that.”
Despite the draw, Baba’s performance was one to remember. His hat trick showcased his quality and fighting spirit, but in the end, it wasn’t enough to push Sporting Lagos over the line.
The team will now turn their attention to regrouping for next season, knowing that their journey was halted not for lack of effort, but by the smallest of margins in one of the NNL’s most dramatic clashes of the season.
