Olusanjo Olutayo warns that timid players will not survive at the club, which sits bottom of the NPFL after a points deduction and a seven game winless run.
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Inter Lagos interim coach Olusanjo Olutayo has promised sweeping changes to his squad as he tries to rescue the club’s first season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). He wants players with courage and intelligence, and he says those who lack either will be moved out.
The Lagos side sit bottom of the 20-team table with three points after Matchday 11, following a 1-1 draw with Ranchers Bees. They have won only one league game this season, and they are on a seven match winless run.
Olutayo did not hide his frustration when he spoke about the squad’s attitude. He said he does not like players who are scared, and he believes the team still has some of them.
“If I have cowards in my team… we will weed them out.”
The coach also asked for more than bravery. He stressed that surviving in Nigeria’s top flight requires players who can take in tactical information and act on it under pressure, and he warned there will be a problem if the squad cannot do that.
A Season Of Setbacks
Inter Lagos have had a rough debut campaign off the pitch as well. The NPFL deducted three points and three goals and fined the club after an assistant referee was assaulted following the 1-1 draw with Katsina United on Matchday 7, and without that punishment they would have had five points at the time.
Shakiru Giwa then resigned after a poor start, and Olutayo took charge as interim coach in mid October. His first game ended in a 2-0 home defeat to Nasarawa United on October 18. Fans who follow the NPFL and like to forecast results can play Super9ja on Bet9ja ahead of the November 7 and 8 fixtures.
The latest draw with Ranchers Bees offered a small positive. Both clubs are struggling, as Ranchers Bees also parted ways with their coach on October 18, and a point at least stopped the slide for Inter Lagos.
Olutayo’s blunt comments have also divided opinion among fans. Some compared him to former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh, who was known for outspoken criticism, while one supporter warned that public criticism of players could cost him the dressing room.
What Lies Ahead
The relegation maths is harsh, because the NPFL sends the bottom four clubs down. Enyimba hold 16th, the last safe place, on 11 points, while Warri Wolves sit 17th on 10 after a similar deduction, which leaves Inter Lagos eight points adrift of safety. Anyone following the survival race can look at the YOHAIG code for Bet9ja before the next round.
The next test comes on Sunday, November 8, when Inter Lagos face Ikorodu City at 4pm. It is another Lagos fixture with a lot at stake for a side that desperately needs points.
Olutayo’s approach is a gamble. Strong words can sharpen a squad, but they can also split it, and the results over the coming weeks will show which way it goes.
Inter Lagos have time to recover, but they need wins soon. Readers who want to keep up with the NPFL can check Bet9ja’s latest promotion as the season moves on.
📌 Did You Know?
- Inter Lagos were one of four clubs promoted from the Nigeria National League last season, so 2026/27 is their first year in the NPFL.
- The league fined Inter Lagos a total of ₦5.25 million for rule breaches, in addition to the points and goals deduction.
- After the three-goal deduction in early October, Inter Lagos’ official tally stood at just one goal.
- Warri Wolves also lost three points and three goals, plus a ₦4.2 million fine, and must play five home games behind closed doors.
- Nasarawa United’s 2-0 win on October 18 gave Olutayo his first defeat as interim coach.
