Kano Pillars continued their resurgence in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a gritty 1–0 victory against Nasarawa United in an away fixture at the Lafia City Stadium.
The solitary goal came shortly after half-time, when forward Chidozie Jude Okorie capitalised on a precise assist from veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali to slot the ball into the net in the 48th minute, giving Pillars the lead they would not relinquish.
The win marks back-to-back NPFL victories for the Sai Masu Gida as they strive to climb out of the relegation zone. After a tough first half of the season, Pillars have shown renewed organisation and resolve under Technical Adviser Mohammed Babaganaru.
Highlighting the team’s improved dynamics, Babaganaru noted the return of key players, saying the squad had strengthened and were better prepared for the challenges of the second stanza.
Due to ongoing rehabilitation works at Lafia City Stadium, the match was played behind closed doors, meaning no supporters were present.
For Nasarawa United, the defeat adds to a mixed run of form, and they will be seeking consistency as the league campaign continues.
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EDITORIAL
There are matches in football that, on the surface, tally little more than the barest statistics: a goal, a result, three points. Yet in the unfolding drama of Kano Pillars’ slender win over Nasarawa United in Lafia, one detects something more profound a team in transition carving its identity amidst the unrelenting demands of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Pillars’ 1–0 victory, forged through Chidozie Jude Okorie’s composed finish, is emblematic not just of a goal scored but of a narrative shifting. After an arduous first half of the season one punctuated by inconsistency and a vexing battle against relegation this performance was a testament to tactical discipline and collective intent. In a campaign where every yard is contested and each point accrued feels like currency, to win away from home and without the buoyancy of a crowd speaks volumes of a group acclimatising to pressure and finding unity in adversity.
It is no small feat to grind out results in a division as competitive as the NPFL, where tactical nuance often gives way to raw determination and encounter margins are measured in nerve and discipline rather than flair alone. Technical Adviser Mohammed Babaganaru’s men showed a maturity that perhaps eluded them earlier in the season. The return of key personnel and an uptick in cohesion have injected belief into a once-beleaguered dressing room and that intrinsic belief is as important as any tactical evolution.
Yet beyond the immediate result, there lies a broader lesson about resilience in football that fortunes can turn not through singular brilliance but through incremental improvements and collective resolve. Kano Pillars’ journey thus far this season encapsulates the sport’s enduring truth: survival in league football is not solely about scintillating victories, but about the capacity to absorb adversity, learn, and respond with renewed vigour.
As the season stretches onward, Pillars must replicate and build upon such performances. For in the crucible of league football, consistency is the currency of success and for a club with history and expectation, it is the only path that separates survival from stagnation.
DID YOU KNOW?
- The Lafia City Stadium match was played behind closed doors due to renovation works aimed at improving spectator safety and logistics.
- Kano Pillars have struggled earlier in the season, with a first win coming only recently after a goalless and winless start in many fixtures.
- Rabiu Ali, who assisted the winning goal, is one of the longest-serving and most experienced players in the NPFL, bringing leadership to Kano Pillars’ midfield.
- Nasarawa United once led the NPFL standings earlier in the season thanks to strong performances and consistent results.
- Matchday 20 takes place during the NPFL’s second stanza, a phase in which teams often recalibrate strategies and rosters after the mid-season break.
