One defeat can’t define our season – Sporting Lagos coach

Sporting Lagos coach Jeffery Buter remains confident his side will improve despite their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Abia Warriors on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Sporting went into the game on the back of a 3-0 win over Inter Lagos at the Onikan Stadium on matchday three but failed to build on that result as they suffered their first home defeat of the campaign.

The hosts held out until the closing stages before Ikoi Etta put Abia Warriors ahead in the 88th minute.

Former NPFL top scorer Emeka Obioma then doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 90th minute to condemn Sporting to defeat in their first home game since returning to the NPFL.

The result leaves Sporting with three points and 15th on the table after one win and two defeats from their opening three matches.

“It’s a long season. One defeat doesn’t define our season. We won away from home and we lost at home; it tells you that anything can happen.

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“This is gone and we’ll put it behind us as quickly as possible and focus on Enyimba.”

Sporting face a battle-hardened Enyimba side in Aba on Wednesday, with the hosts also searching for their first points of the season after losing all three of their opening matches.

Sunday’s defeat was Sporting’s first home game in the NPFL since their relegation in 2024, but they were unable to mark their return in front of their home fans with a victory.

Buter, however, was pleased with the reception from the supporters despite the disappointing result.

“It’s good to see them; you could feel the energy. It’s disappointing; the result is not what we wanted for them, but it’s always nice to have them back.

“It’s going to be a long season and I’m very optimistic about it and, like I said, this defeat doesn’t define our season. We will get better as the season goes on.”

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