Smart City beat 36 Lion to retain Jagaban Cup title

After Nail Biting Final With 'Determined' 36 Lion, Smart City Are Champions Of Jagaban Cup Again 

Smart City Harvest Jagaban Cup For The Second Time In A Row

Smart City have emerged champions of Jagaban Cup Scouting Tournament 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.

36 Lion set up clash with Smart City in Jagaban Cup final

Smart City and 36 Lion have booked their tickets to the final of this year's Jagaban Cup holding in Lagos State. 

The third place match would see The Charlesann battle Dino SC. 

Defending champions, Smart City displayed gritty performance to stage a comeback and record 2-2 against Mavlon FC in the opening match of Day Three in the 2024 edition of Jagaban Cup at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

Mavlon raced to an early lead with brilliant finish from Emmanuel Stephen before half time. 

A thunderbolt strike from Egbeduokun Samson sailed past former Flying Eagles goalie Oremade Olawale to double the lead for Mavlon. 

The defending champions halved the deficit two minutes afterwards with Ibrahim Fuad getting to the end of a team build up initiated by Busayo Lemon. 

Ibrahim Fuad completed the comeback with his second of the game with nine minutes left on the clock. 

Both sides could have scored the winner in the closing minutes but they were undone by criminal misses.

The result saw Smart City end Group A as winners with five points from three games while Mavlon recorded two points. 

In the second match of the day, 36 Lion and Dino Sporting Club cancelled each other out with a drab goalless draw. 

The encounter produced less sparkling moments that could give either side the chance to secure victory but couldn't make it count. 

The encounter between The Charlesann and Ikorodu City ended 2-2 with the former finishing the match with 10 men. 

The Charlesann took the lead in the 11th minutes through Adebayo Joshua benefitting from a poor communication between the defenders and goal keeper of Ikorodu City.

The Oga Boys even the score seven minutes later as Sesan Emmanuel scored for his team with a great finish. 

Egeonu Collins restored the lead for The Charlesann through a sumptuous finish six minutes before half time. 

The Charlesann were reduced to 10 men after Ayinla Olayinka got his marching order for a second bookable offense. 

It didn't take Ikorodu much time to find the equalizer with Onyeme Emmanuel getting his second of the match. 

The enterprising striker went close to sealing the victory for the Oga Boys with two minutes to end the match but was denied by smart goalkeeping of Chigozie Joseph.

The result saw Charlesann finishing the group with five points but they were edged to first place by Smart City on goal difference. 

The last encounter for the day and also for the group ended 2-1 in favour of Broad City against Imperial FC. 

The first half of the match ended goalless with both teams failing to pounce on good scoring chances. 

However, with a minute into restart, Broad City took the lead through Bakare Ayomide as he capitalized on a defensive gaffe in Imperial FC goal area. 

The Boys of Seyi Olofinjana equalized four minutes later as Abisuga Samuel calmly placed his effort past the goalkeeper. 

With 10 minutes to end the pulsating encounter, Broad City regained the lead as Ayomide got his brace. It ended 2-1.

Group B was topped by 36 Lion who picked seven points while Dino placed second with four points.

Day 3 Results:

Smart City 2-2 Mavlon FC

36 Lion 0-0 Dino SC 

Charlesann 2-2 Ikorodu City 

Broad City 2-1 Imperial FC 

Day 4: March 29th

Third Place

The Charlesann Vs Dino SC 7am

Final 

Smart City Vs 36 Lion 8am