Kano Pillars secured a vital 2-0 victory over Enyimba International in a rescheduled NPFL fixture on Thursday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, with striker Abba Adam netting a brace.
The win propels Pillars into seventh place on the league table with 29 points from 19 matches, while Enyimba drops to eighth, having earned 28 points from 18 games.
Enyimba’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, made one change to his starting lineup from their previous game in Cairo.
Goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena was replaced by Zali Abdullahi, who made his second league start. Jephta was unavailable, with Nnaji taking his place on the bench.
For Kano Pillars, key players like Ahmed Musa led the attack, and Shehu Abdullahi anchored the defense.
The match, held at the iconic Sani Abacha Stadium, saw both teams eager to gain the upper hand.
Pillars almost scored early, with Zulkifilu Muhammad heading just wide from a Rabiu Ali corner in the 5th minute.
The breakthrough came in the 26th minute when Abba Adam collected a pass from Ibrahim Inuwa, evading his marker and calmly slotting the ball into the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Despite Enyimba’s attempts to find an equalizer, Pillars held firm, taking their advantage into halftime.
The second half saw Pillars make a substitution, with Auwalu Ali Malam replaced by Mustapha Umar. Enyimba pushed for a response, but their efforts were thwarted by Pillars’ disciplined defense.
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In the 72nd minute, Abba Adam doubled his tally, scoring his fourth goal of the season with a clinical finish that left Enyimba scrambling.
The goal effectively sealed the victory for the hosts.
Legendary Rabiu Ali flanked alongside his teammates acknowledge cheers from the fans.
Pillars made additional changes, with Aminu Adam Sani replacing Zulkifilu Muhammad in the 75th minute. Enyimba responded by introducing Nwaodu and Moses in place of Paschal and Atule in the 86th minute.
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However, the substitutions had little impact on the match.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Kano Pillars, as it ended a long wait for a home win against Enyimba, a team they last lost to at home 3,187 days ago on May 4, 2016, in a 2-1 defeat.