Sporting Lagos Stun Remo Stars 3-1 In ValueJet Opener

Sporting Lagos began their 2026 ValueJet Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, beating hosts Remo Stars 3-1 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne in an action packed opener that produced four goals and a red card.

Haruna Hadi was the standout performer, scoring twice in the first half before Olalekan Malik added a third after the break, while Valentine Egwu’s second half strike proved only a consolation for Remo Stars. Sporting Lagos needed just five minutes to take the lead through Hadi, and Remo Stars’ hopes of a quick response suffered a further blow two minutes later when Olisa Emmanuel was shown a red card, leaving the hosts to play the majority of the match with 10 men.

Sporting Lagos made the extra man count. Hadi completed his brace in the 31st minute to make it 2-0 at the break, and Malik extended the lead eight minutes into the second half. Remo Stars pulled one back through Egwu in the 71st minute, but Sporting Lagos managed the closing stages comfortably to seal a convincing win.

The result carries extra weight given the tournament’s significance this year. The 2026 ValueJet Cup, running from August 9 to 16 at the Remo Stars Stadium, is being dedicated to the memory of Otunba Tade Azeez, the competition’s late chairman and a former Nigeria Referees Association president who oversaw the tournament’s growth since its launch in 2022. Fans following the pre-season action can check Bet9ja’s current promo code as the ValueJet Cup continues this week.

What began as a straightforward pre-season friendly tournament has grown into one of the more notable fixtures on the Nigerian football calendar, regularly attracting NPFL clubs and sides involved in continental competition. Last year’s edition saw Ikorodu City lift the trophy, finishing ahead of Kwara United, Shooting Stars, Abia Warriors, Rivers United and Remo Stars in a strong field.

For Sporting Lagos, the win comes at a landmark moment in their own history. The club won promotion to the NPFL by edging city rivals Inter Lagos to the 2026 NNL Super 4 title on goal difference, and this season marks the first time in Nigerian football history that three Lagos-based clubs, Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos and Ikorodu City, will all compete in the top flight together. New Bet9ja users following Lagos football’s rise can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the new NPFL season kicks off.

Remo Stars, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly after a chastening opening result on home turf, even with the tournament still in its early stages. Hosting the competition at their own stadium gives them a clear route to bounce back, but Sunday’s defeat leaves plenty to work on before the domestic season begins in earnest. Punters following the ValueJet Cup can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as the tournament progresses through the week.

With four goals and a red card inside the opening exchanges, Sporting Lagos have already provided one of the ValueJet Cup’s first major talking points, and Hadi has wasted no time establishing himself among the tournament’s early standout performers.