Match Report: Shooting Stars vs Kano Pillars

MATCH REPORT

Shooting Stars SC 2–1 Kano Pillars

We claimed a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Kano Pillars in an entertaining Nigeria Premier Football League encounter, producing a disciplined and attacking display to secure maximum points. The win also marked a return to our home ground at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, after having not played at home in the home fixture.

First Half

We started brightly and showed attacking intent early on. In the 7th minute, Stephen Amos threaded a neat pass through to Lucky Emmanuel, but the forward failed to keep his effort on target. Three minutes later, Ayodele Ismail went down injured and required medical attention, briefly halting play, before returning to action in the 12th minute.

We continued to press. In the 17th minute, Ayodele Ismail played a ball into the box that found no one, and Sodiq Ibrahim’s follow-up was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. A few minutes later, in the 20th minute, Sodiq thought he had opened the scoring, but his effort was disallowed for handball.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 30th minute. From an Ayobami Junior corner, Sodiq Ibrahim reacted quickest to guide the ball into the net and put us ahead. Earlier, Ayobami Junior had tested the goalkeeper with a shot in the 29th minute, while Lucky Emmanuel also won a corner in the 38th minute following good attacking play.

Four minutes of added time were signalled, and Sodiq Ibrahim went close again in stoppage time with a long-range effort that drifted wide. We went into the break with a deserved 1–0 lead.

Second Half

We resumed with confidence, continuing to push for a second goal. Sodiq Ibrahim fired wide in the 53rd minute, while Tijani Kabir also missed the target four minutes later.

A key change came in the 59th minute, with Qamar Adegoke introduced for Lucky Emmanuel. The substitution paid off almost immediately. In the 62nd minute, Qamar Adegoke found the net to double our advantage, capping an impressive spell of pressure and putting us firmly in control at 2–0.

Joshua Akpan replaced Sodiq Ibrahim in the 69th minute as we looked to manage the game. Kano Pillars threatened late, forcing a fine save from Godgift in the 78th minute, before pulling one back in the 79th minute to make it 2–1 and create a tense finish.

We remained compact and disciplined in the final stages. Stephen Amos made a vital defensive clearance in the 81st minute to help secure the lead. Further changes came in the 90th minute, with Ayobami Junior and Ayodele Ismail making way for Namapele James and Tunde Azeez to help see out the game.

Full-Time

It was a strong and disciplined performance from us, marked by sharp set-piece execution, effective substitutions, and solid defending under late pressure. The win boosts our momentum as we continue our NPFL campaign, with attention now turning to the next away fixture against Abia Warriors.