Pillars battle Nasarawa Utd in top of the table clash

Kano Pillars will square up with perennial rivals, Nasarawa United this afternoon in the Nigeria Professional Football League week 23 top of the table clash at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna.

However, in case of a draw, the winner in the other fixture between Kwara United and Rivers United in Ilorin will go to the top of the table.

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While Pillars are on 41 points, Kwara United, Nasarawa United and Rivers United are on 39 points each with a chance of going to the top.

Therefore, if the two matches in Kaduna and Ilorin end in draw, Pillars will assume leadership again pending the outcome of tomorrow’s match between Abia Warriors and Akwa United in Okigwe.

Although Pillars will be motivated by Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa and their influential captain Rabiu Ali, they must be wary of Nasarawa United who ended their 12-year unbeaten home record with a 2-1 victory in 2015.

In today’s match, Pillars will have to put an eye on Adamu Hassan who left them under unpleasant circumstances in 2020 to rejoin his home club and has been consistent in scoring against them.

It will also be recalled that the experienced striker scored a brace against Pillars when Nasarawa United trounced them 5-0 in a friendly match last year.

And when they met in the first round of the ongoing season in Lafia, it was the same player who denied Pillars victory when he scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw.

Hassan is, therefore, confident he will score against his former club as he told Daily Trust yesterday that he normally scores anytime he plays against Pillars.

“I know they must have mapped out their plan against me but it has been hard for them to stop me. They think they know me but I keep scoring against them.

“Tomorrow’s (today) match is not going to be an exception. I know by the grace of almighty Allah, I will score again,” he said.

In other week 23 matches billed for today, Adamawa United will host Katsina United in Gombe, FC IfeanyiUbah visit Dakkada in Uyo, Lobi Stars will move from Lagos where they lost 0-1 against MFM to play Wolves in Ozoro, MFM will attempt to dim Sunshine Stars in Akure while embattled Wikki Tourists battle Enyimba in Bauchi.