Tag: Kano Pillars

Kano Pillars FC have added six new players to their ranks during the mid-season transfer window as they look to shore up the former league champions in the second stanza of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Sai Masu Gida delved into the transfer market to purchase former Lillestrom of Norway midfielder, Charles Ezeh and Alex Jerry who staged a return to the team after his stint in the Maltese Premier League.

Other players acquired include Dawud Ibrahim, a left-back from Kebbi United, Uzogara Kennedy, a central defender from Rivers United.

In attack, the club has secured the services of three strikers—Eshimitu Gomino Eya from FRSC, Hadi Mohammed Olanrewaju from Bayelsa United.

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These signings aim to add the necessary depth and quality as the Sai Masu Gida seek to refine their season and push for stronger performances in the league.

Meanwhile, the club announced the departure of four players from the club. Usman Aminu Maidubji and Yusuf Abdullahi have moved on loan to NNL side Barau FC and Plateau United, respectively, until the end of the season.

Additionally, Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Anaful’s contract was terminated by mutual consent, while striker Abdulmajeed Aminu is set to complete a move to South African side Moneni Pirates.

While bidding farewell to the departing players, the club’s chairman, Alhaji Ali Muhammad Umar, welcomed the new signings and urged them to give their best in restoring Kano Pillars to its glory .

Kano Pillars made sure of business following their 2-0 win at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano against Enyimba in a rescheduled league tie.

Abba Adam’s double in the 26^th  and 72^nd   minute ensured that Sai Masu Gida toppled the People’s Elephant who have now won just two games in over 15 games.

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The game was earlier  postponed  because of Enyimba’s CAF Confederation Cup engagement but Kano Pillars boosted by the presence of Rabiu Ali, Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi got the maximum points which has taken them to the seventh spot with 28 points from 19 games.

Enyimba on their part are eighth with 27 points from 18 games.

The People’s Elephant will now make another trip to Ilorin to be guest of Kwara United on Monday in another league game brought forward because of their CAF inter club competition.

Kano Pillars duo of attacker Abdulmajid Aminu and attacking midfielder Ibrahim Sani Haliru have been invited  to the Nigeria U-20 national team camp in Abuja.

They have both joined the Flying Eagles in preparation for the WAFU B U-20 playoffs scheduled for  Lome, Togo between October 17^th and 31^st .

 The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 AFCON U-20.

Both players are products of the Kano Pillars youth system and have earned their first professional experience this season under the guidance of Technical Adviser Usman Abd’Allah in the on-going Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign.

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Aminu, who models his game after former France international Karim Benzema and shares similarities with club legend Gambo Mohammed, has been in red-hot form for the youth teams. He made a significant impact in the Sai Masu Gida’s opening match against Ikorodu City and made a notable second-half appearance in the NPFL Match Day 3 encounter against Remo Stars.

Haliru, often compared to NPFL legend Rabiu Ali for his style of play, is also versatile, with the ability to operate on the left wing thanks to his quick feet and sharp football intelligence. Halliru has been involved in the current NPFL campaign as well, featuring in the matches against Ikorodu City and Remo Stars.

Nigeria’s Flying Eagles drawn in Group B of the WAFU B U-20 playoffs alongside Cote ‘d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso will aim for qualification to the 2025 AFCON U-20.

Kano Pillars, Niger Tornadoes and Nasarawa United will lead crop of NPFL clubs that will be in Abuja for the fourth edition of the Unity Pre-season tournament holding between  August 11^th  and 18^th.

The tournament’s Mobilization Coordinator, Kola Daniel said all the participating teams have expressed readiness to take part in the tournament which is the flagship in the Northern conference, adding  other teams like Lobi Stars, Plateau United,  Katsina United, Mighty Jets and EFCC who are the defending champions will be part of the tournament.

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Daniel who is the Media Aide to the Minister of Sports,  said few NLO clubs will be given the opportunity to be part of the tournament to enable them expose their players.

 “The tournament is a ten team tournament. We are expecting 6 NPFL teams, 2 NNL teams and 2 NLO teams. In days to come, we would unveil our partners who will support us in organizing the best of tournaments” he said.

Inspired Abia Warriors will go all out for glory when they take on traditional powerhouse team and former winners Kano Pillars in one of the semifinal matches of this year’s President Federation Cup, at the Lafia City Stadium tomorrow.

The Aba giants struggled for several weeks in the relegation waters, but finally secured their Premiership status when they defeated Akwa United 2-0 in a Matchday 37 game on Sunday. They will approach the match in Lafia with very high impetus.

In the other semifinal, El-Kanemi Warriors are also highly inspired after securing promotion to the NPFL following the conclusion of the NNL Super 8 Tournament. The team has been promoted alongside Nasarawa United, Beyond Limits and Ikorodu City.

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Their opponents are Kebbi United, who fear no foe, and have reached this stage by defeating higher-rated ABS FC of Ilorin, NPFL side Akwa United and EFCC FC of Abuja. It promises an interesting evening at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project on Thursday.  

MEN’S SEMI-FINAL FIXTURES

Kebbi United  vs. El-Kanemi Warriors –Abuja

Abia Warriors Vs Kano Pillars  – Lafia

The management of Kano Pillars has suspended heir head coach Abdu Maikaba allegedly over the comments credited to the former Enugu Rangers gaffer recently.

Even though the reason for his suspension has not been made public, but it could be connected with Maikaba’s statement during a meeting organized by the Kano Pillars supporters at the state press centre where he was critical of certain things at the club and stating he could resign.

The former Enyimba, Wikki Tourists and Plateau United handler was suspended a few days after beating Enugu Rangers in the President’s Federation Cup Round of 64.

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He had stated shortly after that game in Abuja that he had not had a proper working environment since taking over at the beginning of the current season.

The chairman of the club, Babangida Umar Little, has since announced the setting up of a committee that will investigate the coach whom he insinuated might face further punishment if found guilty of the allegations levelled against him.

Coach of Kano Pillars Handball Club, Solomon Yola, said his side must  improve on their coring ability in their quest to wrestle the title with  rival Niger United in this year’s Ardova Handball Premier League.

The team failed to  successfully defended  the title last year as they finished  fourth due to poor scoring record in both phases of the league.

Yola,  a former international, said the team has  now worked on  their goal scoring form , adding they  are battle ready for the first phase of the league which holds  between May 13 and 24 in Benin, Edo State.

Yola noted that finishing fourth position at the last edition of the league was unacceptable.

“With the level we are so far in camp, I can say confidently that we are almost ready for the upcoming first phase of the 2024 Ardova Handball Premier League,” he said.  “I have told the players that we need to improve more on our goal scoring rate as we lost many scoring chances in 2023. We were not impressive last year due to the exit of some of our top players.

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“The team utilised the players available and we finished fourth but this time around I want to assure you that we will definitely start the season positively.”

The assistant coach of the men’s national team called for prayer and support of all and sundry including the state government.

Yola said the club has enjoyed adequate moral support from the residents of Kano City who always visit their training venues to cheer the team.

He added: “We have enjoyed support from the state government and stakeholders. I am calling on our fans to put the team in prayers to see us through the challenges we might face this season, especially as the team will be playing in familiar terrain, Edo State where we won the National Sports Festival title.”

The Coal City ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C will kick start its quest for another positive outing in the oldest club football competition in the country now re-christened, President Federation Cup, with a tough fixture against Kano Pillars F.C in the round of 64 of the competition.

The encounter which will take place at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja, is the only fixture that will feature two top premiership sides in this round of the competition which will be a repeat of the 2018 finals in Asaba where the Enugu side came from three goals down to equalize and won the trophy on penalty kicks.

In the recent past, just last season, the six-time national champions stopped the Kano side 2-0 in the round of 32 at the FIFA Goal Project pitch in Abuja with the current Pillars gaffer, Abdul Maikaba leading the Enugu side.

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Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu who led Plateau United to a semi-final loss in the hands of coach Maikaba in Ijebu-Ode last season is poised to guide his new side, Rangers, past Kano Pillars who are now under the tutelage of coach Maikaba and he said that he is positive going into the encounter.

 “We go into every match with a positive mindset and tomorrow’s match against Kano Pillars will not be different. We respect every team and approach all matches with zeal and determination. Yes, we may have an edge over them in the league this season but the Federation Cup is a different kettle of fish and we hope to up our game to earn a positive result,” stated the young tactician.

According to the fixtures released by the NFF, the encounter will kick off by 16:00 hours with Rangers expected to extend their form in the league that has seen them occupy the prime position in the twenty-team log for over four weeks.