Kano Pillars FC secured a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Lobi Stars in their 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) away clash on Saturday, 23rd November 2024, at the Lafia City Stadium.
Lobi Stars dominated the early stages, scoring twice through Ahmadu Liman in the 7th minute and Ossy Martins in the 14th minute. The first half ended with Pillars trailing 2-0, desperately needing a turnaround.
Usman Abdallah, the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars FC, made tactical adjustments in the second half. He introduced Ghanaian defender Rasheed Alasan and Mustapha Umar, which injected fresh momentum into the team.
The substitutions paid off as Pillars staged a dramatic comeback. In the 76th minute, Rabiu Ali scored a stunning 45-yard free kick, his 8th goal of the season and 126th in the NPFL. Just a minute later, Mustapha Umar leveled the scores, capitalizing on a rebound from Ahmed Musa’s powerful shot.
Post-match, Usman Abdallah praised his team’s resilience but emphasized the need to address defensive lapses. “We cannot continue conceding silly goals. We need to identify a no-nonsense central defender during the midseason transfer window to strengthen the team.”
The result leaves Kano Pillars FC in 6th position on the log with 19 points. Their next fixture against Enyimba International has been postponed due to Enyimba’s participation in CAF Club Competitions.
