Three Lagos NPFL clubs to share Onikan stadium in 2026-27 season

Three Lagos-based clubs will share the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan during the 2026-27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season because it is currently the only venue in the state approved to host top-flight matches.

Ikorodu City, Inter Lagos and Sporting Lagos are all preparing for a nine-month campaign involving 20 clubs, with each team scheduled to play 38 league matches.

The new season began in Ibadan, where Shooting Stars hosted regional rivals Inter Lagos in the opening fixture.

However, the concentration of three NPFL clubs at one stadium presents a significant logistical challenge. Two Nigeria National League (NNL) clubs are also expected to use the facility, meaning as many as five professional teams could be competing for access to the same pitch throughout the season.

Each NPFL side has 19 home matches. If all three Lagos clubs fulfil their schedules at Onikan, the stadium could stage up to 57 NPFL fixtures before the NNL programme is added.

The shortage of available venues follows the deterioration of Teslim Balogun Stadium and Agege Township Stadium. Renovation work is continuing at both grounds, and their eventual return could provide Lagos clubs with more options.

Despite the potential pressure on Onikan, officials at the three NPFL clubs have played down suggestions that venue-sharing will affect their preparations or ambitions.

Ikorodu City used pre-season to strengthen its squad and introduce new players while continuing its focus on youth development. The club’s Director of Media and Communications, Samuel Bamisebi, said recruitment had been carried out with the team’s playing philosophy in mind.

“The club is doing everything in its ability to prepare for the coming season, trying to get new and young players who fit the club ideology,” Bamisebi said.

He added that Ikorodu City’s participation in the Gold Cup pre-season tournament had offered the club a useful test of its readiness for the league.

Bamisebi believes the fixture schedule should allow the three Lagos teams to share Onikan without major disruption.

“The clubs will have discussions as time goes on. It is obviously not going to be a problem because everyone will not play at home on the same weekend due to how the fixtures are scheduled,” he said.

He said that, even when two Lagos clubs are listed as home teams on the same weekend, their matches could be played on different days.

“There is space and time; it is not a problem,” he added.

Sporting Lagos have also used their pre-season programme to assess new signings and examine how quickly they can adapt to the demands of the club’s tactical approach. The club’s stated aim is to assemble a competitive squad capable of coping with the intensity of top-flight football.

Inter Lagos are taking a longer-term view of their development. Club officials say they want to build a sustainable football structure based on player development, improved training facilities and the eventual creation of their own playing pitch.

The club also intends to develop young Nigerian players and help create pathways for them to move to European clubs. As a result, Inter Lagos say success will not be judged only by league position or trophies, but also by their ability to produce players and create lasting opportunities for young footballers.

Onikan could become Lagos football hub

Although sharing one ground will require careful planning, the arrangement could also give domestic football a higher profile in Lagos.

Mobolaji Johnson Arena is expected to become a central hub for NPFL activity, with the presence of three local clubs likely to generate several high-profile derbies and attract sizeable crowds during the campaign.

Inter Lagos have specifically welcomed the prospect of playing at Onikan because of its modern facilities and the closeness of the stands to the pitch.

“Onikan is the best venue for us because it’s a modern stadium without a traditional athletics track,” the club said.

The club also believes fixture planning can reduce the pressure, with the three Lagos sides unlikely to be scheduled to play at home simultaneously.

The responsibility now rests with administrators to coordinate the competing demands placed on the stadium. For the clubs, the priority will be ensuring that the venue arrangement does not undermine their preparation or performances.

For supporters, meanwhile, the presence of three NPFL teams at Onikan could turn the stadium into the focal point of Lagos football, with frequent local derbies, a busy fixture calendar and a potentially vibrant atmosphere.

Niyi Busari is the Publisher and CEO of BSNSportsConcept.