The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano Pillars

  • Four star Kano Pillars wallop Gombe United

    Four star Kano Pillars wallop Gombe United

    Kano Pillars ended their three game losing streak with a thumping 4-0 home win over Gombe United to complete a double over the Savannah Scorpions in Kano as Matchday 31 games were held last weekend.

    Umar Shehu and Rabiu Ali both secured a double each to see Sai Masu Gida move to the eighth spot with 44 points from 31 games.

    Katsina United extended their unbeaten streak to five games with a routine 2-0 home win over Sporting Lagos in Abdullahi Biffo’s debut game as head coach at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

    Pitted against his former team, Biffo and his Noisy Lagosians were sent back home empty handed through Andrew Idoko and Michael Ibe goals. The Changi Boys are up in seventh spot with 48 points and a game at hand.

    Emmanuel Ogbole’s late goal deep into stoppage gave Kwara United the maximum points at home to Akwa United. Ogbole struck 14th  minute of the additional time for the Harmony Boys’ solitary goal while Lobi Stars dropped to the third spot with 52 points after a frustrating goalless draw at home to Bendel Insurance in Lafia.

    Read Also: NPFL: Remo Stars hold Gombe United to retain third spot

    Niger Tornadoes defeated Doma United 2-0 in Kaduna through Hussain Mohammed and Bashiru Usman goals while Plateau United relied on Sunday Anthony’s 70th  minute strike to beat Remo Stars. The Peace Boys have moved to the fourth spot with 50 points but the Sky Blue Stars are next in fifth spot with 50 points as well but they have played a game fewer.

    In Port Harcourt, Rivers United defeated Enugu Rangers 2-0 to halt the Flying Antelopes six game scoring streak. It was also the first time the league leaders would lose two away games in succession in the second stanza.

    Alex Oyowah with the opener in the 34th  minute before Deputy Etcheta’s second eight minutes before full time. The Pride of Rivers are 15th  on the log with 37 games but still with six games at hand.

    Meanwhile at the Ondo Sports Complex, Akure, Enyimba secured a 1-1 draw away to Sunshine Stars for their first away point since February 24th  when they got another draw in Benin against Bendel Insurance.

    Promise Awosanmi was on the scoresheet again for the Owena Whales in the first minute of the second half before Chidiebere Nnachi equalised for the People’s Elephant in the 71st minute. Enyimba thus held on to the second spot by virtue of the draw and better goals difference ahead of Lobi Stars who are on the same number of points with them. They have 52 points from 31 games.

    Earlier on Friday, Divine Ukadike’s first half effort was what Heartland FC needed to scoop the maximum points against Shooting Stars at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. It was their first game at their fortress since the start of the second stanza.

    While Abia Warriors relied on the 84th  minute effort off the boot of Samson Obi to beat Bayelsa United in Umuahia.

  • Kano Pillars FC apologises to fans over loss to Sporting Lagos

    Kano Pillars FC apologises to fans over loss to Sporting Lagos

    The Management of Kano Pillars Football Club has apologised to supporters of the club for the team’s loss to Sporting Lagos FC on Monday.

    The Chairman of the Club, Alhaji Babangida Umar,expressed the apology in a statement issued by the club’s Assistant Media Officer, Mubarak Madungurum,on Tuesday in Kano.

    Umar said Kano Pillars deemed it necessary to apologise to fans in view of the support they had been giving it during their home and away matches.

    He recalled that Pillars lost the aeay encountet to Sporting Lagos FC by three goals to nil at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.

    Umar urged the technical crew and players of the team to always do their best for the club.

    The chairman commended the state government for the support it had been giving to the club.

    He expressed the hope that the support would be sustained ,assuring that the club would not disappoint the government and people of the state.

    Read Also: NPFL: Rangers ,Kano Pillars renew rivalry in titanic tie at Awka

    Umar then urged all football lovers in the state to come out en masse on Sunday to cheer the club to victory against Enyimba FC of Aba.

    Kano Pillars now have nine points from seven matches and will play their next game against Enyimba International FC in Kano.

    (NAN)

  • Continental: Enyimba lose opener Pillars win Tornadoes fall to Santoba

     

    Nigeria’s CAF champions league flag bearers Enyimba lost by a lone goal in their opener against Rahimo of Burkina Faso on Saturday in Ouagadougou.

    The peoples Elephants had started the match in high spirit, taking the war to their opponents all their way.

    Tenacity of the two time Champions League winners however was called to question in the 30th minute when the hosts through a rampaging Zonon shot into the lead. Zonon had prior to the goal become a tormentor in chief forcing Enyimba goalkeeper Afelokhai to dive full length to make a couple of saves. Enyimba returned in the second half mounting pressures and hoping to cancel the lone goal with Guera and Mbaoma making massive impacts and putting the hosts under serious pressure.

    Olatunji was thrown into the battle in place Farouk all in an effort to make a last minute push to turn the table but that was not to be as Rahimo stood their ground gingered by their supporters till the final whistle.

    Reminiscent of the of Late Bob Marley’s track “He who fights and run away lives to fight another day” Enyimba via their verified twitter handle hailed their performance away while vowing to double effort to turn the table during the return leg at the  Aba township stadium August 22.

    While Enyimba have cause to be hopeful of a table turning return leg, same cannot be said of Niger Tornadoes competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.  The Minna landlords lost in Kaduna on Saturday to Santoba of Guinea.

    The visitors who appear to be in a hurry to sing victory song, shot into the lead in the 37th minute of the game and maintained their lead till the closing of first half. On resumption of hostilities in the second half Tornadoes came out smoking and their increased pressure earned a penalty which Godwin Zaki did not hesitate to convert.

    The equaliser did not however last the distance as the visitors reclaimed the lead to leave final score line at 2-1.

    Tornadoes will have to dig deeper to reverse their fortune away to Conakry August 22.

    Niger Tornadoes lost 2-1 to Santoba inKaduna

    Kano Pillars competing in the CAF Champions league however sang resounding victory song after overcoming very hard fighting Ashati Kotoko 3-2 in Kano.

    Kano pillars battle Ashanti Kotoko of Ghana

    Despite the victory Pillars will have to work extremely hard as the Ghanaian side fought really hard an indication that they will not be a walk in the park in the return leg in Kumasi.

  • Kano Pillars are Aiteo Cup winners

    KANO Pillars made history at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna on Sunday when they recorded a first-ever FA Cup triumph by beating Niger Tornadoes 4-3 on penalties after game ended goalless in regulation time.

    Skipper Rabiu Ali, Bature Yaro, Victor Dennis and Emmanuel Anyanwu converted the penalties for Pillars, while Ayo Adetola of Niger Tornadoes missed the decisive kick in sudden death.

    This triumph will make up for the Kano team’s last year loss when they surrendered a three-goal lead in the cup final to Enugu Rangers, who went on to win on penalties.

    Read Also: Kano Pillars confirm Udoji’s death

    Pillars dominated Sunday’s cup final but poor finishing, resolute defending by Niger Tornadoes and the brilliance of goalkeeper and captain Mustapha Aliko combined to ensure no goals were scored after 90 minutes of action.

    Four-time Nigeria champions Pillars, who were runners-up in the NPFL this past season, will represent the country in the 2020 CAF Champions League.

    Beaten cup finalists Tornadoes will thus feature in the CAF Confederation Cup as a result.

  • Junior Lokosa joins Tunisian league side Esperance

     

    Happy New Year and Happy new start, that is perhaps the best way to greet Kano Pillars forward Junior Lokosa after the 25 year old successfully sealed a two and half year contract with Tunisian giants Esperance on Monday.

    The  Tunisian club dished out a welcome message for the Badagry boy who emerged highest goal scorer of the Nigerian Professional football league last season.  His exploits just before the world cup in Russia triggered off ‘Operation include Lokosa in the World Cup squad’ campaign among soccer fans in the country.

    Although he was part of the shape up friendlies just before the last 23-man squad was released by Coach Gernot Rohr, he ended up not making the team to Russia with many insisting that he would have made a difference had he been given a chance. 

    Excited Esperance are hoping that the coming of the Nigerian will boost their CAF Champions league campaign even as they prepare to take on FC Platinum of Zimbabwe on Friday.

    Esperance are in group B which also has Orlando Pirates of South Africa and Horoya of Guinea. The four teams in the group all boast of one point after pulling a draw in their opening matches.

    While Platinum played out a goalless draw against Orlando Pirates, Esperance held Horoya to a 1-1 draw in Conakry. Esperance host Platinum on Friday and has been tipped to pull a victory in that one.  It is not however known whether they can unleash their new man Friday’s tie.

    Esperance are defending champions of the CAF Champions league and have won the title three times, finishing as runners up four times.

  • Ogenyi Onazi visits, donates N500, 000 to Kano pillars

     

    Super Eagles and Trabzonspor midfielder Ogenyi Onazi was the guest of 2018 Federation cup runners up Kano Pillars Wednesday in Abuja.

    Onazi who missed Super Eagles two legged African Nations Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa as well as the friendly match against Cranes of Uganda, donated N500, 000 to the team during training to the delight of club officials.

    Pillars took to the social media to inform its numerous fans of Onazi’s visit and the donation he made. “@NGSuperEagles player @OnaziOgenyi donated ₦500k to Kano Pillars FC today during training session in Abuja” the club informed.

    Onazi interestingly was subject of a recent media chat with Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, with the German tactician denying insinuations in some quarters that the former Lazio ace is no longer part of his plans following a rift.

    “It is not true that I have issues with Ogenyi” he submitted adding however that there will be no automatic shirt for any player ahead of AFCON 2019 in Cameroon. “Every player has to be at his best” he added

    Nigeria has already picked a ticket for the continental fiesta even with a match against Seychelles in match next year to spare.

    The Eagles missed the last two editions of the Nations cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon respectively and will be hoping to return with a bang in Cameroon, the first time 24 teams will be featuring in the event.

     

     

     

     

  • Lokosa is LBA’s NPFL Player of the Season

    Kano Pillars forward, Junior Lokosa, once again got recognition for his efforts in the league as the League Bloggers Awards (LBA) awarded him 2017/18 Player of the Season.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Masu Gida, goal poacher, is the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) highest goal scorer.

    He is also a recipient of the inaugural Eunisell Boot Award as the highest goal scorer.

    Lokosa, for his efforts got N3.8 million, which represents N200, 000 for each of the 19 goals he scored during the 2017/2018 NPFL season.

    George Akpayen, the Media Officer of LBA, told News Agency of Nigeria that Lokosa would be adding another gong to his blistering career as the player of the season.

    Akpayen said that although the season came to an end abruptly and log leaders, Lobi Stars, were named representatives of Nigeria in the 2018/19 CAF Champions League, Lokosa scored the highest goals.

    “Lokosa scored 19 goals to finish as top scorer when the league was declared concluded after Match Day 24.

    Read Also: Lokosa tipped to shine at Kano Pillars

    “Interestingly, he scored all 19 goals in 21 matches as he missed three matches. The LBA took its decision based on statistics available as at Match Day 24.

    “Lokosa had a fantastic campaign right from the first round when he entered the history books as the first player to score 14 goals after 19 Matches in the top division in Nigeria.

    “Overall, he made significant contributions to the performance of his team and was clearly the poster boy,’’ he said.

    kpayen said Lokosa’s feat attracted the attention of the Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, who listed the Kano Pillars forward in his provisional
    squad for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    “Lokosa eventually made his international debut against DR Congo, but failed to make the final list to the mundial.

    “Lokosa is no stranger to records as he became the first player to win back-to-back LBA Player of the month award for January and February 2018 last season.

    “The LBA will present both awards to Lokosa on a date to be announced,’’ he said.

  • Gold Cup: Pillars begin title defence against Phoenix ASC

    Kano Pillars’ A list status in the domestic league will be put to test as they begin their Gold Cup Tourney title defence against ‘giant-killers’ Phoenix ASC when the pre-season event kicks off on November 15, 2018 in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
    This is a second Group A tie billed for the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium with a kickoff time of 4pm.
    In the first game of the Group, Kwara United and Rivers United who faced each other three times last season in the league and Group phase of the Aiteo Cup in Lagos will lock horns by 10. am. Remo Stars who hope put their Ilorin poor form behind them are drawn bye.
    The Sky Blue Stars will aim for their first three point in the 10 days football fiesta when they host new boys, Phoenix ASC on Friday, 16th November.
    Meanwhile, the opening fixtures of Group B will see CAF Champions League side and 2016 Gold Cup Champions, Lobi Stars open its campaign against FC Ebedei.
    Coach Kabir Dogo who will be making his debut in the Gold Cup Tourney, will be leading his new look Sunshine Stars against debutant Cynosure FC of Abakaliki. Both matches will be played on Thursday, 15th November.
    Fidelis Ilechukwu and his Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries FC lads will be resting ahead their first game against FC Ebedei on Friday, 16th November.
    The top two teams from  two Groups in the mini-league will qualify automatically for the semis.
    Leader of Group A and B will host runner-up of Group B and A respectively on 21st and 22nd of November by 4pm local time.
    Winners from the two semi-final games will then lock horns for the ultimate prize in the epic final at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium on November 24.
    The Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament is sponsored by distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic, Dr. Buhari Abdul-Fatai (BAF), and proudly supported by Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee Member, Alhaji  Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, foremost betting company, Bet9ja, Nigeria leading sportswear firm, ‘Owu’, Play Sportswear, Ekiti State Football Association, Naija League Magazine, Seyi Akinwunmi Foundation, Phoenix ASC, Sportspro, New-Bell Global Investment, 11th Media Global Concept, Phreestyle Sports and Vomoz Mobile.
  • Tributes pour in as soccer world mourns Udoji

    Tributes pour in as soccer world mourns Udoji

     

    What next for the young family of late Kano pillars defender Chinedu Udoji? That is the question that has enveloped the mind of friends, teammates, club administrators and family members alike as tributes continues to pour in following his sudden death Sunday night in a ghastly motor accident.

    The accident which occurred along club Road in Kano took the life of the 28 year old player who only few hours back emerged Man of Match in a Premier league tie that was action packed.

    Udoji had gone to visit his former Enyimba teammates after the Pillars vs Enyimba match which ended 1-1 but never made it back home.

    Pillars announced the passing away of their dependable defender revealing the shock that has taken over the camp as a result of the incident.”Tragedy hits Pillars as we lost Chinedu Udoji after a terrific car accident in Kano. The untimely death of Chinedu Udoji is shocking and a great loss to the football family,” the club stated.

    The camp of Enyimba was equally thrown into mourning for Udoji who captained the Peoples Elephant to win the 2014 Federation Cup and 2015 Nigeria Professional Football League titles.

    Late Udoji has been described by teammates on both divides as a dependable team player and a motivator.

    Picture of the vehicle posted on twitter by Kano Pillars indicate a total wreck.

    Udoji was heading back to his residence in Badawa Quarters in his car with registration number, KSF 499 BF when the incident occurred.

    The deceased captained Enyimba for five years. Chairman of Enyimba Felix Agwu, in a statement in Lagos described Udoji’s death as shocking.

    “Words cannot convey either the depth of our pain or the intensity of our anguish over the death of Udoji.

    “What we can do in this hour of sadness, however, is to pray to God to strengthen the family he left behind, the teammates he so passionately inspired and his friends and fans, “he said

    Udoji joined our club in 2009 and captained the club for five seasons before his departure in 2016 to Kano Pillars.

    The Nigeria football federation (NFF) also described the incident as shocking and prayed for the family at their hour of grief

    The demise of @pillarsfc defender Chinedu Udoji comes as a rude shock to us this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and club. May his soul rest in peace. #RIPUdoji,” the Glass house stated on Monday.

  • Season opener: Kastina Utd, Pillars share points.

    Season opener: Kastina Utd, Pillars share points.

    It was a no victor no vanquished situation Saturday as Kano Pillars and Kastina United played out a 2-2 draw in the opener of the new season. The match which is the only one scheduled for the day  lived up to its billing as both teams fought to the finish in an attempt to avoid starting on a losing note. Pillars Junior Lokosa made a major statement when he scored the first goal of the season and signaled his desire to compete among goal scorers of the season.

     While Pillars enjoyed the honour of leading by a lone goal to the end of the first half, the music soon changed when they homers grabbed an equaliser on return of the second half thanks to Ajana Chinedu.

    Pillars however restored their lead in the 61st minute after Alassan Ibrahim scored. The Kano side looked set as at the 83rd minute to run away with three points even saving penalty against Kastina United, but bagging the first red card through Victor Dennis. It was not until the 94th minute however that Destiny Ashadi of Kastina United scored a penalty to level up leaving the score at 2-2.

    Pillars believe it was a match they should have won but for last minute change of destiny, noting however that it was a good outing all the same. 

    “We are supposed to win this match, but “Destiny” changed. Over all it was a fantastic start of this year #NPFL season” the club dished out on social media shortly after the final whistle.

    All eyes will be on new comers Go Round FC as they take on Wikki Tourist on Sunday just as returnees Heartland keep a date with Akwa United in Uyo. Kwara United tackle visiting Tornadoes. In other ties, Ifeanyi Ubah will slug it out with Yobe Stars. MFM take on Abia Warriors while league defending champions Plateau United lock horns with Nasarawa United.