Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffery Buter has revealed that a crucial half-time tactical reset and psychological pep talk served as the catalyst for his side’s stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Enyimba in Wednesday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture in Aba. Sporting Lagos pulled off one of the standout results of the season, handing the People’s Elephant their second consecutive league defeat after overturning a two-goal deficit away from home.
Enyimba appeared to be firmly in control after surging to a 2-0 advantage in front of their home supporters in the first half. However, the visitors completely flipped the script after the interval, demonstrating immense character to stun the hosts. Reflecting on the dramatic turnaround after the match, Buter praised his players’ mental strength and their willingness to execute instructions when it mattered most.
“It was just for them to be better in the second half because in the first we were really poor. We should’ve scored goals, and I let them understand that the game was still there to be taken,” Buter explained. “That it is still early for us to correct the mistakes of the first half, and I think we started very well.” Even after cutting the deficit, Sporting Lagos had to weather further adversity.
Buter noted a brief lapse in concentration that led to what he considered a “cheap penalty” conceded by his side, yet the team refused to let the setback derail them. Praising the squad’s resilience, the coach added: “Also the mental strength to continue to play, especially the way we did it, finding the second goal and going on to find the winner and controlling the game.
I think the half-time team talk really helped us. It was [about] come out and show what you are made of.”