Kano braces for “Pyramid derby” between Pillars & Barau FC

History has shown that football derbies can be both a blessing and a curse. From the fierce Glasgow rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, to the blue and red halves of Manchester, Merseyside, and Milan, and down to Nigeria’s decade old NPFL derby between two teams from the same state — Enyimba International and […]

History has shown that football derbies can be both a blessing and a curse. From the fierce Glasgow rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, to the blue and red halves of Manchester, Merseyside, and Milan, and down to Nigeria’s decade old NPFL derby between two teams from the same state — Enyimba International and Abia Warriors — rivalries inspire passion but can also spark violence if not carefully managed.

With Barau FC’s promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for the 2025/26 season, Kano, for the first time in history, now has two clubs competing in the nation’s topflight.

The development has given birth to what commentators call the “Pyramid City Derby”, while others prefer the tag “Northern Derby.” Whatever the name, anticipation is high ahead of the first clash on October 19, 2025, with the return leg set for March 9, 2026.

Football in Kano has a long, passionate history, but it has also been marred at times by incidents of thuggery and fans’ hooliganism. The Sani Abacha Stadium, home of Kano Pillars, has witnessed several outbreaks of violence over the years, often triggered by disputed referee decisions, poor crowd control, or intense rivalries with visiting teams.

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In some cases, matches have ended abruptly as fans invaded the pitch, leading to sanctions from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board, including fines and outright ban on the stadium.

While many supporters see football as a unifying force, authorities in Kano have repeatedly had to intervene to curb hooliganism, stressing the need for education, strong security presence, and fan sensitisation to preserve the city’s status as a football hub.

Weekend Trust Sports’ interviews with fans on the emergence of the “Pyramid City Derby” reveal a mixture of loyalty, excitement, and cautious optimism.

For many residents, the presence of two Premier League clubs offers a welcome distraction for the teeming youth of Kano, creating opportunities for them to channel their energy into sport rather than social vices.

Nasar Kabir, The Team Manager of Kano Pillars U-15/17, said, “The promotion of Barau FC is a positive development, and I am excited about it. For years, the burden of being the only top-tier club providing opportunity for Kano’s football talent has been shouldered by Pillars alone, but that responsibility can now be shared.”

Sports analysts also argue that the rivalry could transform the football economy, with increase in ticket sales, merchandising, transport, and food vendors.

The impact was already evident on Matchday one of the NPFL season, August 24, 2025, when Barau hosted Enyimba at the Sani Abacha Stadium. A mammoth crowd turned up, creating a carnival-like atmosphere. According to reports, the debut appearance of Barau FC attracted over 16,000 enthusiastic fans.

The game ended goalless, but a dramatic moment came late on when fans burst into celebrations after hearing Kano Pillars had scored away in Abia — only for the goal to be cancelled minutes later.

 

United supporters’ club for Pillars and Barau FC

The Chairman of Kano Pillars fans club, Dr Rabiu Abdullahi, has said for now, there is no clear distinction between supporters of the two clubs.

“On Matchday one, all the drummers cheering Barau against Enyimba were actually Kano Pillars fans. Even when the two meet, it will likely be the same.”

Brimming with smiles, Barau FC’s kit curator, Ali Lawan Yusuf a.k.a. Bosho, echoed Dr Abdullahi’s position as he said “Right from our academy days, we’ve had a good relationship with the Kano Pillars team — we are one.”

 

A match between politics and football

However, it is not going to be a perfect relationship between the two teams as there is a lingering concern about politics, fan loyalty, and unavoidable football rivalry.

Ahead of the current NPFL season, controversy erupted when reports surfaced that the Kano Sports Commission had asked Barau FC to pay ₦50 million to use the Sani Abacha Stadium — long regarded as Pillars’ fortress.

The stance by the Sports Commission immediately triggered divergent views with most of the critics of that decision citing political differences as the reason for such a demand.

It is an open secret that Kano Pillars are funded by the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP)-led state government, while Barau FC is bankrolled by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Deputy President of Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin. Some residents fear this could sharpen political divides and fuel tension among youths.

Jamilu Uba Adamu, who has worked as Matchday security at the stadium for six years, acknowledged the potential danger but insisted that football has more power to unite than divide.

“You cannot take away the political atmosphere, but Pillars have already accepted Barau FC as a sister club. They even loaned players to help them in the lower league. I believe the derby will feel like any ordinary NPFL matchday,” he said.

Dr Rabiu of the Pillars fans club also queued behind Adamu as he said: “It could escalate if not carefully managed, but for us the derby is about progress. 70 percent of the players in both teams are from Kano. No one wants to cause trouble that will harm our state.”

Long-time Pillars’ supporter, coach Baba Lawan, enthused that opportunities should overshadow any thought of violence during the derby: “As it is in other parts of the world, like London with several clubs, Kano even needs more NPFL clubs. This fact is more important than anything that would divide us.”

 

Fans speak on October 19 derby clash

As supporters brace for the first derby, many lifelong Pillars fans are open to embracing not just Barau FC but also the prospect of more NPFL clubs emerging in the state.

Musa Wakili Yola said: “It’s a football game and we cannot predict who will win or lose, but one thing is certain — we are even looking forward to other clubs like Bichi First coming up.”

Abdullahi Isah admits that while he has always been a Pillars fan, Barau FC was one of his favourite teams as they were coming up. “We are united, and this derby is a game we are excited about and have long yearned for. We wish them all the best.”

 

Peace pact between Barau FC and Pillars

Both clubs have pledged to promote peace and fair play. They have agreed to collaborate in fighting drug abuse among fans and players, while also working on joint campaigns for inclusiveness and community development.

On August 21, 2025, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kano chapter, organised a stakeholders’ meeting bringing together representatives of the State Sports Commission, Kano Football Association, Kano Pillars, and Barau FC.

At the end of deliberations, a communiqué was issued calling for mutual respect, collaboration, and healthy rivalry. Stakeholders urged supporters to preserve Kano’s status as Northern Nigeria’s football hub.

They also emphasised collective efforts to attract sponsorships, vowing to work towards the ambitious dream of building a 100,000-capacity stadium in Kano.