Kayode Akanji Agboola, President of Magic Stars FC (also known as Alpha Kay), has credited the club’s impressive performance in the 2025 Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO) to the invaluable experience gained from their participation in the prestigious Viareggio Cup in Italy this year, according to Sports247.
The Lagos-based team traveled to Italy in March for the Viareggio Cup as part of their preparation for the upcoming NLO season. They performed exceptionally well, reaching the quarterfinals before narrowly losing 1-0 to the eventual champions, Genoa.
Magic Stars FC kicked off their campaign in Italy with a strong start, winning 2-1 against Casarano in their opening match. They continued their success by defeating Apia Leichhardt U19 with a commanding 4-0 victory and concluded the group stage with an impressive 3-0 win over Sassuolo U18. In the Round of 16, they triumphed over Pesaro, winning 3-0 before their journey ended against Genoa.
Upon returning to Nigeria, the team carried that momentum into their domestic league, finishing the regular season unbeaten in the Legacy A Centre in Lagos. They won seven out of nine matches, drew two others, and accumulated 23 points while scoring 24 goals and conceding just three.
In an exclusive interview with Sports247, Agboola reflected on how the experience in Italy transformed his team and contributed to their unbeaten run into the playoffs.
“It was a wonderful season for my boys. Coming back from the Viareggio Cup in Italy, it was an incredible journey. The experience definitely helped the team. They played more relaxed and appeared more experienced. The results speak for themselves,” he stated.
Agboola emphasized that the tournament instilled confidence and composure in the players, qualities that were evident throughout their dominant league performance.
With the first phase of the season complete, the focus now shifts to the playoffs, where Magic Stars FC will strive for a coveted spot in the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Agboola acknowledged the challenges ahead: “This is just the first phase. We have another phase coming up—the playoffs. We’re looking forward to it. As I always say, we pick up where we left off and see how it goes,” he added.
Magic Stars FC is now preparing for the playoffs, which could potentially elevate them to the second tier of Nigerian football, just a few years after their formation.