Ikorodu City coach Bright Ozebagbe has expressed mixed feelings following his side’s goalless draw against Sporting Lagos in the fiercely contested Lagos Derby at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
While acknowledging the intensity of the encounter, Ozebagbe believed his team did enough during a disciplined first-half display to have secured all three points.
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Speaking after the game, the tactician pointed out that his players executed their tactical instructions early on, though they failed to capitalize on their dominant moments.
“I think we would have wrapped this up in the first half. The boys played with discipline, they were resilient,” Ozebagbe said.
“But we had those moments where we had to come back and we didn’t come back.”
The coach admitted that Ikorodu City suffered spells of pressure when Sporting Lagos gained momentum in the second period, noting that his technical crew will immediately shift focus to correcting those lapses.
“We will go to the next game prepared to stay disciplined, try to work areas where we have to come back. We all looked great, but we didn’t come back. It’s a big worry. Hopefully, it turns out well for us.”
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Despite the missed opportunity to grab a win, Ozebagbe was quick to praise the strength and overall depth of his squad, highlighting how vital the second-half substitutes were in maintaining stability during the derby.
“We have the depth in the team. Everybody that is part of the team is giving their best. That’s what we saw when we made those subs,” he added.
The stalemate leaves both Lagos clubs sharing the spoils, keeping Ikorodu City positioned firmly in the upper half of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) standings.
