Rabiu Ali scored a first half penalty to help Kano Pillars to a 1-0 win over Akwa United in the pick of three rescheduled games decided in Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on Wednesday.
In the rescheduled Match Day seventeen encounter decided at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, Ali converted from the spot in the 38th minute after Mathew Etim was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box.
Wednesday’s win lifted Pillars to second on the league log with 31 points from nineteen matches, three points behind leaders Lobi Stars.
Reigning league champions Plateau United missed a big chance to climb with Pillars as they were held to a 1-1 draw by their tenants Wikki Tourists in Jos.
Emmanuel Odafe gave the Tin City side the lead in the 25th minute but Abubakar Umar replied for Bala Nikyu’s Tourists just before the hour mark, leaving both sides in a futile search for the winner. United stay at 4th position while Wikki stay in the last relegation spot in spite of their point.
Moving out of the relegation zone on Wednesday were Go Round who ended a run of six winless games with a hard earned 1-0 over MFM in Omoku.
Substitute defender Chris Kpekpe headed home the game’s only goal five minutes after the interval to ease the pressure on coach Ngozi Elechi who has already been served a three-game ultimatum prior to Wednesday’s game.
Match Day 20 matches will hold on Sunday with the reverse fixtures of last weekend’s matches expected to herald the start of the second stanza of the league.
