Football fans have expressed frustration following the rescheduling of the highly anticipated Lagos Derby between Sporting Lagos and Ikorodu City because of a political rally that appears to clash with the use of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
The much-anticipated blockbuster was originally scheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Unfortunately, it has been rescheduled to accommodate a political rally at the same venue.
Sporting Lagos, which recently gained promotion to the NPFL and was scheduled to host Ikorodu City, confirmed the rescheduling to Wednesday, September 30, adding that tickets already purchased by fans would remain valid and could be used for their next home game.
“Sporting faithful,
We had really been looking forward to Sunday. After we fought back to get to the NPFL, our first home game was going to be a Lagos derby, and we were going to do it in front of you. It was the perfect way to come back.
Unfortunately, our game against Ikorodu City, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 6th, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 30th. We’ll share the full matchday details once confirmed.
If you have already bought a ticket for Sunday, it will remain valid for our next weekend home game. We will be in touch directly.”
On Nakata Green on X said:
“This is absolute balderdash coming from Lagos State Government. A lot is at stake in this game and I believe no form of apology is enough to erase the inconveniences this ugly situation has caused
So painful”
Swag-K said:
“This is rubbish from the league, its organisers and the rallying party. Imagine an anticipated match being postponed from Sunday(a day when fans can turn out in numbers) to mid-week due to political rally. A cursed nation”
Odufuye Oluwatosin wrote:
How do you expect people to turn up when you fixed the postponement to Wednesday of all days. When half of the population are working class
The club said its fans could still witness a Lagos Derby as Sporting Lagos will host Inter Lagos, another club that gained promotion to the league’s top flight this season.
“But our next game is also at Onikan. And it is a Lagos derby. On Sunday, September 13th, we play Inter Lagos. We may be the away team, but it will now be the first time in a decade that two Lagos clubs meet in the top flight.”
The development is another blow to football fans in Lagos, with Sporting Lagos, Ikorodu City and newly promoted Inter Lagos all relying on the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, as their home venue in the NPFL.I kept the quoted words unchanged, including the wording and punctuation inside the quotes.
