Four-time winners of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, Kano Pillars extended their unbeaten run to seven games after they held Rangers International to a 1-1 draw at the Cathedral.
Godwin Aguda put the Flying Antelopes ahead at the break, but that strike was cancelled by Junior Lokosa’s 87th minute goal for the visitors.
The home side dominated the encounter, creating numerous chances but were wasteful, with Ifeanyi George, Abu Azeez and Chiamaka Madu all guilty of missing glaring opportunities.
However, Sai Masu Gida defended well, and were rewarded for their positive changes in the second half when Lokosa tucked home his ninth goal of the season to earn his side another valuable point away from home.
“I am happy with the result,” a contented Ibrahim Musa, coach of Pillars said after the game. “Our being able to read perfectly the flow of the game helped us get this result as we continue to challenge for top prizes at the end of the season.”
With that result, Pillars confirmed themselves as NPFL’s draw specialists, as it was their fifth of the season, and third in a row.
It was also their fourth draw in five away games this campaign, and it was enough to see them replace Akwa United as league leaders on 17 points, while Rangers are ninth on 14.
Elsewhere in the league, Rivers United recorded an unlikely away win, following a narrow 1-0 defeat of Kwara United in Ilorin.
Osita Henry Chikere scored on the stroke of the 90 to hand Stanley Eguma’s side a rare win on the road, and all three points.
The win sees them move into the top four, on 16points, with Kwara rooted to the foot of the table on ten points.
Enyimba leapfrogged Akwa United to second on the table, after a 2-1 win over Sunshine Stars in a very wet evening in Aba.
FT #Enyimba 2-1 Sunshine Stars
— Enyimba FC (@EnyimbaFC) February 25, 2018
Ifeanyi Anaemena's header secured all three points in the pouring rain, as we made heavy weather of that second half. Still, does three points ever not feel good?#ENYSUN
Ifeanyi Anaemena’s 72nd minute goal sealed the win for the People’s Elephants, whose opener via Chekwube Chukwude in the first half, was cancelled out by Alimi Sikiru’s equaliser for the visitors early in the second half.
It was Enyimba’s fourth win of the campaign, and sees them now unbeaten in their last seven outings in the league.
They move up to second, level on points with third placed Akwa United, who have a game in hand after they were excused from playing at the weekend alongside champions Plateau United after their midweek games in the CAF Champions League.
Full Results
Rangers 1-1 Pillars
Enyimba 2-1 Sunshine Stars
FCIU 1-0 Nasarawa Utd
Kwara Utd 0-1 Rivers Utd
MFM 0-0 Lobi Stars
Tornadoes 2-0 Abia Warriors
Wikki 1-0 Katsina Utd
Yobe Stars 2-0 El-Kanemi
