Veteran Rabiu Ali Fires Kano Pillars FC to 2–1 Win Over Kun Khalifat FC in Katsina

At 44, Rabiu Ali once again demonstrated why he remains a talisman for Kano Pillars, scoring twice as the veteran midfielder inspired his side to a 2–1 victory over Kun Khalifat FC in Katsina on Sunday.

Ali opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curling free-kick that left Kun Khalifat’s goalkeeper helpless, sending the Pillars faithful into raptures. Eight minutes later, Kun Khalifat levelled through Nwokorie Ebuka in the 27th minute to bring the contest back to parity.

But Ali was not done. In the 38th minute, following a foul on Ahmed Musa inside the area, the referee awarded a penalty — and Ali stepped up with trademark calm to convert, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and restoring Pillars’ lead.

From then on, Kano Pillars managed the game with discipline and composure, seeing out a hard-fought but deserved win.  The braces takes Ali to six goals this season, putting him joint-top in the league’s scoring chart, and earned him Fans’ Player of the Match.

Editorial

There are few things more stirring in football than witnessing experience and composure defy time. Rabiu Ali’s evening in Katsina was such a moment a masterclass from a veteran whose legs may no longer match those of his younger peers, but whose vision, technique and will remain unbowed.

From the curling free-kick that opened the scoring to the ice-cold penalty that sealed the triumph, Ali carried the burden of expectation with dignity and determination. It was not flashy it was authoritative. In a league often characterised by youthful exuberance and reckless abandon, the calm precision of a 44 year old midfielder remains rarer than it should be.

For Kano Pillars, a club mired in pressure and scrutiny, this wasn’t just a win  it was a tonic. It reaffirmed that leadership need not be loud to be effective that influence can be quiet and still seismic. Ali didn’t sprint past defenders this evening. He curled, he placed, he delivered. In doing so, he reminded everyone that football is not merely a test of youth  it’s a crucible for character, intelligence and timing.

Yet this is only one victory. The path ahead remains long for Pillars. But if this result teaches anything, it is that class real class does not age. It endures. And for a club and fanbase looking for steadiness, Ali’s performance offered something more valuable than three points hope.

Did You Know?

1. Rabiu Ali’s brace against Kun Khalifat FC is not the first time he has scored a double for Kano Pillars this season he previously netted two against Gombe United in a 4–0 win.
2. Despite this win, Kano Pillars remain in a precarious position near the bottom of the league standings, with prior point deductions having undermined their campaign.
3. Kun Khalifat FC are among the newly promoted sides in the 2025/26 season of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
4. The match was played in Katsina Kano Pillars’ adopted home for this season — rather than their traditional base in Kano.
5. Over the years, Rabiu Ali has built a reputation not just as a scoring midfielder but as one of the NPFL’s most clutch performers — often stepping up in critical moments, under pressure, to deliver.