STL, Art Hotel, Shoreline dominate Lagos polo opening

Lagos-based teams asserted their dominance in the opening week of the 2026 Lagos International Polo Tournament, producing three champions as the competition shifts into a higher gear with the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup taking centre stage in week two. Lagos STL, Lagos Art Hotel, and Lagos Shoreline/A1 swept through a crowded first week to claim the […]

Lagos-based teams asserted their dominance in the opening week of the 2026 Lagos International Polo Tournament, producing three champions as the competition shifts into a higher gear with the prestigious Majekodunmi Cup taking centre stage in week two.

Lagos STL, Lagos Art Hotel, and Lagos Shoreline/A1 swept through a crowded first week to claim the Adedapo Ojora Cup, the Chapel Hill Denham Cup, and the Oba of Lagos Cup respectively.

Powered by Seyi Tinubu, STL set the tone for the hosts with a commanding performance in the Adedapo Ojora Cup final, defeating arch-rivals Lagos Shoreline/A1 10–5 in a fiercely contested five-chukka encounter. STL, featuring Yasin Amusan, Alfie Hyde, Chris Makenzie, and Tayo Ojora, seized early control of the match and maintained their lead despite a spirited fightback from the Shoreline/A1 quartet of Olumide Agboola, Sule Musa, Isa Kwame, and Manuel Crespo.

An emotional moment followed at the prize presentation as Tayo Ojora received the trophy named in honour of his late father. He praised his teammates for their commitment and described the victory as deeply personal to the Ojora family.

Shoreline/A1, however, found redemption in the Oba of Lagos Cup final, overcoming visiting Wiltten Aviation of Port Harcourt 8–5. The match, played before a capacity crowd that included members of the Lagos Traditional Council from the Oba’s Palace, earned Shoreline/A1 the revered traditional title.

The opening week concluded in dramatic fashion on Sunday as Art Hotel Polo Team staged a sensational comeback to win the Chapel Hill Denham Cup. Trailing 2–6 in the third chukka against favourites STL, Art Hotel rallied to snatch a thrilling 13–12 victory and secure their first-ever title in the competition.

Art Hotel, led by Baba Dantata, Folarin Kuku, Segundo Llorente, and debutant Bauti Panelo, appeared destined for defeat with only two chukkas remaining. However, inspired play from Llorente and Panelo turned the game on its head, delivering one of the most memorable finishes in tournament history.

The 2026 Lagos International Polo Tournament, which galloped off on January 27 at the Ribadu Polo Ground in Ikoyi, now enters its second week with the Majekodunmi Cup—widely regarded as Africa’s most competitive polo prize—on offer.

Also slated for contention in week two are several high-profile trophies, including the Sani Dangote Cup, played in memory of the late president of the Lagos Polo Club, as well as the Argentine Ambassador’s Cup, the Owen Cup, and Nigeria’s oldest polo prize, the Independence Cup.