Kano Pillars claimed bragging rights in the Northwest derby after edging regional rivals Katsina United 1-0 in a closely contested Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter on Sunday.
The Sai Masu Gida secured the crucial victory through an early strike by Ibrahim Yahaya, who found the back of the net in the sixth minute to put the hosts ahead.
Yahaya’s goal gave Kano Pillars the perfect start to the encounter, putting Katsina United under pressure as they sought to recover from the early setback.
Despite their efforts to get back into the game, Katsina United were unable to find an equaliser, with Kano Pillars maintaining their defensive discipline to protect their slender advantage throughout the match.
The Changi Boys fought to get something out of the derby but could not break through the hosts’ defence before the final whistle, leaving them empty-handed.
The victory earned Kano Pillars all three points and provided a valuable boost to their NPFL campaign, while Katsina United were left to rue their inability to turn their efforts into a positive result.
The outcome further underlined the importance of early goals in tightly contested league fixtures, as Kano Pillars made their sixth-minute breakthrough count to secure victory over their Northwest rivals.
