Sporting Lagos have emerged as the early leaders of the 2026 ValueJet Cup after an impressive 3-1 victory over hosts Remo Stars on the opening day of the pre-season tournament at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
The Lagos-based side produced the most convincing result of the opening day, with Haruna Hadi scoring twice as Sporting Lagos took advantage of an early red card to secure a commanding victory over Remo Stars. Hadi struck in the fifth and 31st minutes before Olalekan Malik added a third goal in the 53rd minute, while Valentine Egwu pulled one back for Remo Stars in the 71st minute.
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Remo Stars were reduced to 10 men as early as the seventh minute following Olisa Emmanuel’s dismissal, making the task even more difficult for the hosts and allowing Sporting Lagos to establish control of the contest.
The result puts Sporting Lagos at the summit of the Day 1 standings with three points and a two-goal difference, giving them the strongest start among the teams that featured on the opening day.
Enugu Rangers also began their campaign with a victory, edging Ikorodu City 1-0 in the second fixture of the day. The narrow win gives the Flying Antelopes three points and leaves them second behind Sporting Lagos on goal difference, while Ikorodu City remain without a point.
The day’s other fixture produced a more closely fought contest as Abia Warriors and Rivers United played out a 1-1 draw in what was an Oriental-flavoured encounter. The result leaves both sides with one point apiece after the opening round of matches.
Following the three Day 1 fixtures, Sporting Lagos occupy top spot, Rangers sit second, while Abia Warriors and Rivers United are separated from the top two by two points. Ikorodu City and Remo Stars complete the initial standings without points, with Remo Stars at the bottom after conceding three goals.
The opening results have immediately set up an intriguing competition as the 2026 ValueJet Cup gets underway. The tournament, which was established in 2022, has become an important part of the Nigerian football pre-season calendar, giving participating clubs an opportunity to test their squads, assess new players, build match fitness and sharpen their tactical plans before the new domestic campaign.
The competition has also developed a reputation for attracting established Nigerian clubs and producing competitive encounters rather than simply serving as a series of friendly matches. Previous editions have featured teams such as Remo Stars, Rivers United, Abia Warriors, Shooting Stars, Kwara United and Ikorodu City, with Ikorodu City winning the 2025 edition.
The 2026 tournament is being staged from August 9 to August 16 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, and has been dedicated to the memory of Otunba Tade Azeez, the late chairman of the ValueJet Cup. Organisers have also indicated that top Nigerian Premier Football League and African clubs were invited for this year’s competition.
For Sporting Lagos, however, the immediate focus will be on maintaining the momentum generated by their opening-day performance. Hadi’s brace, Malik’s goal and a disciplined display after Remo Stars’ late consolation have placed the Lagos club in an early position of strength.
Rangers will also take confidence from their narrow victory over Ikorodu City, while Abia Warriors and Rivers United will look to build on their point when they return to action.
With the tournament still in its opening stages, the Day 1 results have already provided an early indication of how competitive the 2026 ValueJet Cup could become, with Sporting Lagos setting the pace and the chasing pack looking to close the gap as the competition continues in Ikenne.
