Musa Strike Gives Kano Pillars 1–0 Derby Win Over Barau

 

Kano Pillars FC on Sunday secured a narrow 1–0 victory over city rivals Barau FC in a Match Day 29 clash of the Nigeria Professional Football League.

The derby encounter, played at the Sani Abacha Stadium, drew a large crowd of supporters who turned out to cheer the home side despite the ongoing Ramadan fast.

Kano Pillars began the match with determination as they sought to bounce back from a 2–1 away defeat to Shooting Stars SC in their previous fixture.

Both sides, however, struggled to create clear chances in the first half, with midfield battles and disciplined defending dominating proceedings.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute when veteran forward Ahmed Musa connected with a well-delivered corner from Mustapha Jibrin to score the only goal of the match.

Barau FC intensified their attacking efforts after conceding, putting pressure on the Pillars defence in search of an equaliser.

Despite several attempts, the visitors were repeatedly denied by the organised Pillars backline and their goalkeeper, who ensured the home side maintained their slim advantage.

Kano Pillars focused on protecting their lead in the closing stages, successfully repelling late attacks from Barau FC to secure all three points.

Speaking after the match, Pillars’ Head Coach, Babagaru Muhammad, praised his players for their resilience and determination.

“The players showed great discipline and commitment throughout the match. It was a good performance from the team,” he said.

Muhammad added that the team would continue to improve ahead of their next league fixture against Niger Tornadoes FC.

“We will keep working hard to ensure we get a good result in our next game,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victory moved Kano Pillars to 35 points, placing them 16th on the league table.

NAN also reports that Musa was named Man of the Match by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria for scoring the decisive goal.