NPFL: Jeffrey Butler Reacts to Sporting Lagos’ Comeback Win Over Enyimba

Sporting Lagos head coach Jeffrey Butler praised his players for their mental strength after they came from behind to defeat Enyimba 3-2 in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash in Aba.

Stanley Dimgba put Enyimba ahead just before the break with a 44th-minute strike. Sporting hit back six minutes after the restart through Abdullahi Abdulraqeeb, but the hosts regained the lead in the 51st minute when Tobi Iyanda converted from the penalty spot.

The visitors refused to back down. Haruna Hadi made it 2-2 in the 65th minute before Daniel Aboh struck the winner four minutes later to put Sporting ahead for the first time.

Enyimba pushed for a late equaliser, but Sporting held firm to take all three points. The result extends Enyimba's losing run to four games, while Sporting leave Aba with a vital victory.

Following Sporting Lagos' 3-2 comeback victory against Enyimba, head coach Jeffrey Butler highlighted his side's reaction after the break.
When asked what he told his players in the dressing room after going in 1-0 down at half-time, Butler said he challenged them to improve and reminded them the game was still there to be won.

“It was just for them to be better, for them to be better in the second half. Because, as I said, in the first half I think we were really poor. With the way the opponent also played, we should have scored goals.

I let them understand that the game is still there to be taken and that it is still early for us to correct the mistakes of the first half. And I think we started very well; we scored. A lack of concentration again to give away the penalty - I think it was a cheap penalty to give away.

But 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 control the game. I think the half-time talk really helped us.”