Kano Pillars forward Nyima Nwagua has told www.aclsports.com that his side will be hoping to correct their mistakes in the 2018 final when they face Niger Tornadoes in Sunday’s 2019 AiteoCupFinal.
Nwagua scored one of the three goals for Pillars against Rangers in the 2018 final played at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba but watched helplessly as Rangers came from 3-0 down to level and win on penalties.
The former Lobi Stars forward is expected to start for Pillars once again in Sunday’s final in Kaduna and he says his side will look to correct their mistakes.
“With the whole experience of last finals, we are going into this one knowing it is not over until it is over,” Nwagua told www.aclsports.com on Saturday.
“We will also like to correct our mistakes of last year believing God that by his special grace, he will grant us victory this time,” he added.
48' GOAL! Rangers 0-3 Kano Pillars
Burly forward Nyima Nwangua powers his way past the ageing Okey Odita and fires beyond Femi Thomas at his near post.
Pillars home and dry. #YourSportsMemo #RANPIL
— ACLSports (@acl_sports) October 24, 2018
Kano Pillars, led by head coach Ibrahim Musa finished second in the recently held NPFL Championship Playoffs in Lagos, earning them a CAF Champions League berth but the Sai Masu Gida have not won a title since 2014 – when they won the league.
For Nwagua, looking for his first major trophy as a player, he says the players are determined to win in order to enter the club’s history books.
“We are more determined to win tomorrow, it’s not just about Pillars not winning since but we want our names to be written in the record books of Pillars like that of the captains of the team Gambo (Mohammed) and Rabiu Ali.”
Standing between Pillars and the title on Sunday is Niger Tornadoes, the beaten finalists in 2017. The Ikon Allah Boys got relegated at the end of the last league season but Nwagua says that does not take anything away from their opponents.
“Any team in the finals is not an easy task and we are not underrating them. They are not a small side and besides it is not their first time also in the finals so that alone should make us not to look down on them,” concluded the former Go Round FC forward.
The Men’s final on Sunday is expected to start at 4pm Nigerian time at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna after Rivers Angels and Nasarawa Amazons might have concluded the women’s final.
