By SCM Sports Desk I Sunday, Sept 20, 2026
KANO, Nigeria — In a scintillating spectacle of West African football, Nigerian giants Kano Pillars produced a Masterclass performance at a packed Sani Abacha Stadium.
Anchored by the sparkle of their biggest star names, Kano Pillars swept aside high-flying Doma United in an emphatic 4-1 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 4 triumph.
Before kickoff, visiting Doma United arrived in Kano boasting a spotless record.
The Gombe outfit sat atop the NPFL standings having won all three of their opening fixtures without shipping a single goal. However, facing the legendary star power of Super Eagles icon Ahmed Musa and evergreen midfield talisman Rabiu Ali proved far too steep a hill to climb.
The opening exchanges saw Doma United attempt to sit deep and protect their defensive fortress, but Kano Pillars broke the deadlock in the 19th minute. Defender Abdullahi Musa rose highest to convert a precision corner delivery swung in by captain Rabiu Ali, registering the first goal Doma United had conceded all season.
The momentum firmly shifted, and just before the half-hour mark in the 32nd minute, the maestro Rabiu Ali turned from provider to scorer. Picking up the ball near the edge of the penalty area following good wing play by Ubong Friday, Ali unleashed a trademark curling effort into the net to double the hosts’ lead heading into halftime.
Doma United threw themselves a lifeline early in the second period when forward Sadiq Rilwan pounced on a defensive lapse in the 53rd minute to narrow the scoreline to 2-1. For a brief spell, the visitors threatened a dramatic comeback, probing the Pillars backline and forcing two crucial saves from the home goalkeeper.
Yet, true star quality shines brightest when the pressure mounts. In the 77th minute, former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow star Ahmed Musa put the contest beyond reach. Displaying the electrifying pace and lethal composure that made him a world-class international, Musa burst through Doma’s backline on a swift counter-attack and slotted home Pillars’ third goal, sending the home crowd into raptures.
The icing on the cake arrived in the 90th minute when substitute Nasiru Salihu capped off a dominant evening by turning in a low cross to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
In terms of match statistics, Kano Pillars utterly controlled the narrative of the match. Pillars recorded twelve total shot attempts with seven hitting the target, compared to Doma United’s six total attempts and just three on target. The home team dominated the tempo with fifty-eight percent ball possession and earned seven corner kicks against Doma’s three.
Furthermore, Kano Pillars maintained disciplined defensive shape throughout, committing only nine fouls to Doma United’s fourteen, while each side picked up a single yellow card over ninety minutes.
The convincing win hands Kano Pillars three vital home points and catapults them up the early NPFL standings, while handing Doma United their very first setback of the campaign.
