Nigeria midfielder Jack Ipalibo became part of Portuguese football history after second-division side SCU Torreense stunned Sporting CP 2-1 after extra time to win the Taça de Portugal at the Estádio Nacional, Soccernet.ng reports.
Torreense arrived in the final as massive underdogs against the dethroned Portuguese champions, but they produced one of the greatest cup shocks the country has ever seen. Their victory made them the first lower-league club to win the competition in its 88-year history.
The game exploded into life after only three minutes when Kévin Zohi fired Torreense ahead following an assist from Leo Azevedo. Sporting struggled to settle as the Liga Portugal 2 side pressed aggressively and defended with discipline throughout the first half.
Sporting eventually responded after the break. In the 53rd minute, Luis Suárez brought the Lisbon giants level after being picked out by Maximiliano Araújo. The equaliser shifted momentum towards Sporting, who dominated possession and forced Torreense deep into their own half.
However, the match changed again during extra time. Sporting were reduced to 10 men in the 108th minute when Araújo received a straight red card. Torreense immediately sensed an opportunity and pushed forward against the tiring favourites.
Their winning moment arrived in the 112th minute after they earned a decisive penalty. Veteran captain Stopira, aged 38, stepped up calmly and converted the spot-kick to seal a famous 2-1 victory and spark wild celebrations among the Torreense supporters.
The win ended a 70-year wait for Torreense, whose only previous appearance in the Portuguese Cup final came in 1956 when they lost 2-0 to FC Porto. Before this season, lower-tier finalists such as Farense, Leixões and Chaves had all failed to lift the trophy. Torreense finally broke that curse and also secured direct qualification for next season’s UEFA Europa League league phase.
Ipalibo’s journey across Europe is crowned by silverware
Although Ipalibo did not play in the final itself, the Nigerian midfielder still played a role during Torreense’s remarkable cup campaign. His only appearance in the competition came in September when he featured for 80 minutes in a 3-1 away victory against Correlhã in the second round.
The 28-year-old joined Torreense in July 2025 from Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi TE and mainly operated as a squad rotation defensive midfielder during the season. Wearing the number 42 shirt, he was often used late in matches to provide defensive stability and physical presence in midfield.
Standing at 1.84m, Ipalibo built his reputation as a hardworking holding midfielder capable of breaking up opposition attacks and protecting leads. While he was not among Torreense’s regular starters, his depth proved valuable during a demanding season in which the club balanced league football with a historic cup run.
Ipalibo’s career has taken him across several European countries. After beginning at Diamond Football Academy in Nigeria, the same system that produced Samuel Chukwueze, he moved to Spain in 2016 to join Villarreal.
He later found stability in Norway with Strømsgodset, where he made more than 100 appearances and scored nine goals across four seasons. Spells in Greece with Kifisia, Ukraine with Chornomorets Odesa and Hungary followed before his move to Portugal.
Now, despite limited minutes, the Nigerian midfielder can proudly say his name is linked forever with one of the greatest shocks in Portuguese football history.
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