BY OUR CORRESPONDENT IN KANO
THE OLD dog still has all the tricks. Super Eagles icon Ahmed Musa proved he remains the brightest star in the Nigerian sky yesterday, firing a clinical winner to hand Kano Pillars a massive 1-0 victory over rivals Katsina United.
In a North West derby that was more “blood and thunder” than “samba soccer,” it took a moment of pure veteran composure to break the deadlock at the Sani Abacha Stadium.
With the home crowd growing restless and the game locked in a stalemate, the 33-year-old superstar stepped up in the 72nd minute.
Receiving a neat ball from Mustapha Umar, Musa—who has returned to his boyhood club to show the youngsters how it’s done—calmly slotted a right-footed effort home to spark scenes of absolute delirium in Kano.
It wasn’t just about the bragging rights for the Sai Masu Gida. This was a win forged in the fires of a relegation scrap.
Pillars have had a season to forget, blighted by a three-point deduction and a slide down the table.
But with their “General Manager” and captain leading from the front, they have clawed their way up to 18th, narrowing the gap to safety and proving they won’t go down without a fight.
Katsina Crumbles
For the visitors, it was a case of “what if.”
Katsina United arrived looking to cement their place in the top half of the table, but they found the Pillars’ backline—marshalled by the rock-solid Abdullahi Musa—in no mood to share the points.
Despite late pressure, the “Chanji Boys” couldn’t find a way past Abuchi Okeke in the Pillars goal, leaving them stuck in 11th and wondering how they let the veteran Musa slip through their fingers.
As the final whistle blew, there was only one name on the lips of the 16,000 fans: Ahmed Musa. In a league of rising starlets, the “Governor” showed he is still the King of Kano.
