By Ahmad Elnafaty
Kano Pillars took all three points with a dramatic 94th-minute winner to secure a 2-1 triumph over Niger Tornadoes in Saturday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 18 fixture at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute of the contest through Rasheed Alasan, with the Ghanaian and Kano Pillars defender on the scoresheet for the first time since the opening of the 2024-25 NPFL campaign.
The Ikon Allah Boys were largely in control and looked increasingly likely to score following the opener, and they eventually pulled themselves level when former Nigeria Under-17 star Mohammed Aliyu Goyi showcased his quality, firing into the near post for his first league goal of the season, leaving just under 30 minutes to search for a winner from either side.
Despite Niger Tornadoes often looking the more likely side to find the winner as the game progressed, but it was legendary forward, captain Ahmed Musa who restored Kano Pillars lead in the 94th minute to spark scenes of jubilation among Sai Masu Gida faithful.
The result means Kano Pillars are seventh in the table, just a point behind fifth-placed El-Kanemi Warriors, and level on point with Ikorodu City who are yet to play this weekend, while Niger Tornadoes worryingly fall to defeat, leaving them in eighth in the standings with 24 points.
With the return of Ahmed Musa from injury, Kano Pillars will be aiming to deliver a positive result when they head to Maiduguri next week.
Niger Tornadoes, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from Saturday’s defeat when they welcome Rangers International to the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna on Sunday, 29, December 2024