Inter Lagos Loses 2-1 in NPFL Debut Against Shooting Stars

Inter Lagos faced Shooting Stars in their inaugural Nigeria Premier Football League match on Friday at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, suffering a 2-1 defeat. Coach Shakiru Giwa, appointed last year, cited registration problems as a key factor in the loss, which forced him to alter his squad just two hours before kick-off.

Lucky Emmanuel opened the scoring for Shooting Stars in the 11th minute, but Inter Lagos equalized through captain Uchenna Njoku, marking the club's first-ever NPFL goal. However, Shooting Stars regained the lead just before halftime with a penalty converted by Sodiq Ibrahim.

Giwa acknowledged the challenges faced by his young team transitioning from the Nigeria National League to the top division but remained hopeful for improvement in future matches. Inter Lagos CEO Lanre Vigo expressed pride in the team's performance, particularly in the first half, and looked forward to their next match against Doma United.