Hephzibah SC booked their place in the Lagos playoffs of the Nationwide League One (NLO) after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Chekas United FC in the Alade Stadium Winners’ Playoff on Thursday at the Alade Sports Centre, Ipaja Command, Alimosho, Lagos.
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The decisive goal came from Oyedele Temidayo midway through the first half, as Hephzibah SC capitalised on a dominant opening spell to break the deadlock in the highly anticipated clash between two unbeaten sides.
Chekas United responded strongly after the break, returning for the second half with greater attacking intent as they searched relentlessly for an equaliser.
However, Hephzibah SC displayed resilience and defensive discipline to protect their slender advantage and successfully see out the fiercely contested encounter.
The victory crowned Hephzibah SC as the overall winners at Alade Stadium and secured their qualification for the next stage of the Lagos playoffs.
Battle of the Unbeaten Teams
Both clubs entered the playoff decider with impressive unbeaten records during the regular season. Chekas United FC emerged champions of the Alade Stadium 1 group without defeat, while Hephzibah SC topped the Alade Stadium 2 group, also maintaining an unbeaten run.
The fixture attracted significant attention from fans and followers of grassroots football in Lagos, with both sides battling intensely for supremacy and progression.
Following their triumph, Hephzibah SC will now face three other stadium winners from across Lagos in the final playoff series, where the teams will compete for the sole Nigeria National League (NNL) promotion ticket available to Lagos-based clubs.
The team will now shift focus to the decisive Lagos playoffs as they continue their pursuit of promotion to the Nigeria National League.
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