Kano Pillars made it two victories out of two games after they outwitted Lobi Stars in their game of the President’s Cup holding at the mainbowl of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Sai Masu Gida and the revered Pride of Benue kicked off action on Day two of the President’s Pre-Season Cup 2021 with expectations from fans for a football spectacle.
Coach Ibrahim Musa retained a majority of his players from the first game with captain Rabiu Ali, Yusuf Maigoro, Umar Hassan, Joshua Enaholo, Ezekiel Tamara and Shehu Hassan all retaining their places.
Lord Eddy Dombraye called on Nazim Amokachi, Douglas Achiv and Barnabas Imenger Jr. in a change from their first game.
The first half ended with both sides struggling to control the pace of the game. Ali and Tamara met stiff opposition from Achiv and Michael Okolo who pressed up and restricted passing lanes from the middle for the Sai Masu Gida boys.
Amokachi Jr switched flanks and operated from the right where he found room to put in a couple of balls into the box. His penalty plea in the 40th minute was turned down by the referee who saw nothing wrong in a tackle from Ezekiel. In a half of very few opportunities, Kano Pillars were the happier of both teams, as they were lucky not to have gone down in the first period.
The second half started brightly for Kano Pillars and it took only two minutes before they took the lead. A fine moment of play saw sleek passes from the left flank. The ball found Ali and he broke the lines to find Maigoro, who finished with a placed ball after ghosting past his marker.
Lord Dombraye reacted from the bench introducing Ifeanyi Ogbe and Austin Ogunye in place of Amokachi and Adams Olamilekan in the 57th minute.
In the 67th minute, Lobi Stars won a corner kick that was swung in by Gabriel Wassa. It landed on a Lobi head and for a moment, the Pillars went to bed, allowing new entrant Ogunye to head home the equaliser.
Ibrahim Musa sent in ex Heartland man Kabiru Sanusi to brighten his team’s attack after a torrid afternoon for Aniekeme Okon.
With eight minutes of regulation time left, Pillars found space in the final third and a pass from Ezekiel located Umar Shehu and the forward slotted the ball under Nwabali Stanley.
The game saw a frenetic end to it, but Kano Pillars would hold on for a second win, going to the last matchday.
Pillars will be up against Akwa United today in the final game that may decide who wins the prestigious cup while Lobi Stars will strive to erase their two games loss when they welcome Aunshine Stars in a battle for whose star shines brighter also today.
