Slick Swiss claim Copa Lagos glory

Schirinzi’s men proved too hot for hosts Nigeria to handle on Sunday.

Switzerland were crowned Copa Lagos champions on Sunday with a well-earned 8-3 success over hosts Nigeria in front of an excited home crowd.

The event, which serves as something of a warm-up for the upcoming CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, got underway with a bang thanks to exciting match-ups prior to the final between Pepsi Football Academy and Enyimba FC and later an all-star celebrity side against a team made up of former Nigeria international footballers.

In the showpiece match of the day it was the Swiss who cruised to victory – hitting five unanswered goals in the final stages to wrap up the title.

In a frenetic start, Ott and Schirinzi both went close before Hodel saw a penalty saved by Ayalogu in the Nigeria goal. Emmanuel almost turned home Obodo’s cross at the far post in Nigeria’s first sight on goal before Schirinzi calmly slotted home the opener with four minutes remaining of the first period.

However, Nigeria ultimately went in ahead as Abu’s powerful low drive was followed by a similarly well-struck effort from Emeka.

Ott needed just 22 seconds to level after the restart and the forward was it again late in the frame as he controlled smartly before finishing acrobatically.

However, the goals continued to flow as Abu registered his second from the resulting kick-off. Stankovic and Hodel had the final say of the period with a quick brace and, after Emmanuel failed to convert with the goal at his mercy shortly after the restart, Ott completed his hat-trick by finding the top right corner.

And, with the Swiss fully in gear, Stienemann added the finishing touch to a wonderful team move, before Schirinzi added his second with a close-range header.

Earlier in the day, Pepsi Football Academy claimed a dramatic extra-time 6-5 win against fellow local side Enyimba while the ex-Super Eagles just about held off their celebrity opponents with a 2-1 success.

Copa Lagos results

Pepsi Football Academy 6-5 Enyimba FC (AET)

Nigeria Celebrities 1-2 Former Nigeria internationals

Nigeria 3-8 Switzerland

Goals: 0-1: Schirinzi, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Abu, min. 1 (1); 2-1: Emeka: min. 1 (1); 2-2: Ott, min. 11 (2); 2-3: Ott, min. 2 (2); 3-3: Abu, min. 2 (2); 3-4: Stankovic, min. 0 (2); 3-5: Hodel, min. 0 (2); 3-6: Ott, min. 7 (3); 3-7: Steinemann, min. 5 (3); 3-8: Schirinzi, min. 3 (3);