Inter Lagos coach Shakiru Giwa has blamed registration problems for his side’s 2-1 defeat to Shooting Stars in their first-ever Nigeria Premier Football League game, while promising an improved performance in subsequent matches, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Giwa, who was appointed last year, guided Inter Lagos to promotion from the Nigeria National League and is now leading the club through its maiden NPFL campaign.
Inter Lagos showed flashes of quality in their historic top-flight debut at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan on Friday, but it was not enough to earn them a positive result as Shooting Stars secured a 2-1 victory.
Shooting Stars made a winning start to the new campaign, edging the newly promoted side in a first half that produced three goals and two penalties.
Lucky Emmanuel gave the hosts the lead in the 11th minute before captain Uchenna Njoku equalised midway through the first half, scoring Inter Lagos’ first-ever NPFL goal with a simple finish into an empty net after a fine run and pinpoint pass across the face of goal by Adigun Damilare.
