Smart City have emerged champions of Jagaban Cup Scouting Tournament once again after defeating 36 Lion 5-4 via penalties at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Friday morning.
The result meant Smart City retained the title, having also triumphed in 2022.
In the third place match played earlier in the day, Dino SC fought gallantly from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 against The Charlesann at regulation time.
The penalty shootouts saw Dino SC winning 5-4.
Memuda Emmanuel delivered a sumptuous effort beyond goalkeeper Samuel Oriola to edge Smart City in front on 20 minutes.
A beautiful strike from ex Nigeria international Wisdom Ubani came off the woodwork as 36 Lion searched for the equalizer.
36 Lion deservedly restored parity through Lawal Seun who scored on the hour mark.
The game ended 1-1 after 70 minutes at Onikan and it all went onto what would be an intense and entertaining penalty shootouts you could see.
Smart City prevailed 5-4, thus retained their title.
Meanwhile, the Exhibition game saw Team Yellow&Blue humbling Iwowo&Alasho 2-0.
Brain behind Jagaban Cup, Gafar Olawale Liameed expressed satisfaction on success of the scouting tournament.
“We give praises to God for His mercies and protection upon us throughout this tournament,” the Lagos State Football Association Chairman mused.
Speaking on plans to make subsequent editions of the tournament better and bigger, the President of 36 Lion Investment promised to bring lots of unique and exciting features to the tournament.
“This is the second edition. Beyond the facts that Jagaban Cup symbolises the virtues and socio-economic re-engineering ethos of President BolaTinubu, it’s equally a testament to our desires to birth a progressive and beneficial football ecosystem in Lagos and Nigeria.”
“Football is my life. I breath and live for the beautiful game. It is my destiny, and I shall continue to work and collaborate with other genuinely concerned football stakeholders and investors, to return the glorious days of Lagos and Nigeria football,” he added.
36 Lion Investment, Diamond Sports Management Limited, Lagos Enigma and IFMM are official partners of Jagaban Cup.
