By Aiwu Esele
Ex-Super Eagles international, Ahmed Musa on Sunday scored twice to secure Kano Pillars first win in three games as they overcame Sunshine Stars at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
The former Super Eagles captain marked his return with an inspiring performance, scoring twice as Kano Pillars FC defeated Sunshine Stars of Akure 2-0 on Match Day 5 of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The match at the club’s adopted home ground, saw Musa lead the team to a well-deserved victory, which brought much-needed relief after back-to-back losses.
Kano Pillars began the game on a positive note, with Ahmed Musa opening scoring in the first four minutes of the game. Musa received a pinpoint pass from Mustapha Umar before unleashing a superb strike from outside the box, giving the Sunshine Stars goalkeeper no chance.
The hosts kept pressing, with Umar narrowly missing a chance to double the lead in the 20th minute when his shot was saved by the keeper.
Veteran Rabiu Ali also came close with a free-kick, which was skillfully stopped by the goalkeeper.
As the first half drew to a close, Zulkifilu Muhammad set up Auwalu Ali, who fired his shot off target. The referee added three minutes of stoppage time, but no further goals were scored.
Kano Pillars kept their pace and their early efforts yielded result as Musa adding his second goal just six minutes into the second half. Musa was perfectly positioned to slot home a low cross, effectively doubling Kano Pillars’ lead.
The hosts had a chance to extend their lead further when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after a Sunshine Stars defender handled the ball in the box. Musa stepped up, but his shot rattled off the post, missing the opportunity for a hat-trick.
Despite the missed penalty, Kano Pillars continued to control the game, with goalkeeper Idreesu Ibrahim making a spectacular save to deny Sunshine Stars any chance of getting back into the match.
In the 84th minute, fresh legs were introduced as Bright and Sudais came on for Zulkifilu and Malam, maintaining the momentum until the final whistle.
In his reaction, Technical Adviser Usman Sherrif Abdallah praised his team’s performance: “I’m satisfied with how the players performed today. It shows that we’re capable of regrouping and winning again. It’s still early in the season, but I believe we’ll continue to improve.”
Ahmed Musa also expressed his happiness at returning to Kano Pillars, crediting the fans for their support: “I’m glad to be back in the NPFL and to contribute to my team’s success. Playing here feels special, and I hope to keep making our supporters proud.”
Kano Pillars will have a double-header away as they travel to face Akwa United in Uyo, followed by a midweek clash with Rangers in Enugu. With Musa’s return injecting new energy into the team, the four-time Nigerian champions are optimistic about their upcoming fixtures.
