The Copa Lagos kicked off on Friday with the hosts dramatic victors against Morocco.
Emeka Ogbonna’s header 15 seconds from time gave Nigeria a dramatic 7-6 win over African rivals Morocco to cap off a thrilling opening day at the Copa Lagos.
The hosts led only fleetingly prior to Ogbonna’s late header as five-goal Nassim El Hadouai proved a key threat for a Morocco side seeking revenge for their defeat to Nigeria at the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations last year.
However, there was to be a twist in the tail once again for Morocco as Ogbonna left it late to grab the winner and put Nigeria joint-top of the international group alongside Spain.
Four goals from Pablo Perez helped Joaquin Alonso’s men kick off their campaign with a 7-3 win against Lebanon.
The former world champions – playing competitively for the first time since September – showed few signs of rust as they battled back from an early Hussein Abdullah strike to claim the points with relative ease.
In the club competition, Arsenal BSC won the competition’s opening game as they held of Nigerian outfit Kebbi BSC 11-9 in a high-scoring affair.
The English champions – playing outside the UK for the first time – were given a stern test of their credentials in the competition’s curtain raiser and even survived a late red card for captain Aaron Clarke en route to collecting their first points of the tournament.
In the all-Nigerian clash, Gidi Sharks joined Arsenal BSC on maximum points as they beat Pepsi Football Academy 6-2.
Sharks – selected and coached by esteemed Swiss boss Angelo Schirinzi – made a rapid start to proceedings, having seen Arsenal open with a win, and moved three goals to the good in quick succession.
While Pepsi showed fight with goals in the first and third periods, Sharks proved too strong in what proved a comfortable success.
Friday 08.12.17
15:30 – Arsenal BSC 11-9 Kebbi BSC
16:45 – Spain 7-3 Lebanon
18:00 – Pepsi Football Academy 2-6 Gidi Sharks
19:15 – Nigeria 7-6 Morocco
Saturday 09.12.17
15:00 – Kebbi BSC v Gidi Sharks
16:15 – Spain v Morocco
18:00 – Arsenal BSC v Pepsi Football Academy
19:15 – Nigeria v Lebanon
