NPFL: Pillars slide further as Remo Stars bounce back

Kano Pillars’ struggles in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) deepened on Wednesday as they suffered yet another defeat, this time a 1–0 loss to champions Remo Stars at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. Sai Masu Gida, who have endured a frustrating and unproductive campaign so far, once again showed their frailties on […]

Kano Pillars’ struggles in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) deepened on Wednesday as they suffered yet another defeat, this time a 1–0 loss to champions Remo Stars at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.

Sai Masu Gida, who have endured a frustrating and unproductive campaign so far, once again showed their frailties on the road, extending an already worrying losing streak away from home.

Remo Stars, coming off a disappointing defeat to Enugu Rangers, entered the match under pressure to steady their season. They found the breakthrough in the 34th minute when Victor Mbaoma rose highest to head home the decisive goal. The Sky-Blue Stars dominated long spells of the first half, and the opener gave them a much-needed boost after recent setbacks.

After the restart, Remo Stars pushed aggressively for a second goal, creating several promising opportunities. However, they lacked the finishing edge to widen their lead, leaving Kano Pillars with hope of snatching something late in the game. That chance nearly arrived when veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali struck a powerful freekick that goalkeeper Emmanuel Olisa tipped onto the crossbar in what became Pillars’ brightest moment of the evening.

Despite some late heroics from goalkeeper Okeke Abuchi, who denied substitute Samson Olasupo on multiple occasions, Kano Pillars’ attack once again failed to produce a meaningful threat. Their inability to create consistent scoring opportunities summed up a frustrating performance and highlighted the problems that have plagued their season.

With this defeat, Pillars remain rooted to the bottom of the NPFL table with only six points from 13 matches. Even more alarming is their away form: they have now lost all seven of their road fixtures this season. Their upcoming home clash against league leaders Ikorodu City may offer a chance to stop their slide, but confidence remains low.

Meanwhile, Enyimba Football Club moved swiftly to debunk rumours claiming the team had imposed a 50 percent salary reduction on players following their loss to Wikki Tourists. The club described the report as misleading, reaffirming through its official channels that “at no time did the management approve, initiate, or implement any salary reduction,” insisting all decisions are communicated through verified platforms.