Kano Pillars’ struggles deepened on Saturday as they suffered another home defeat, losing 2–0 to Niger Tornadoes in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 10 encounter at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina.
Goals from Abdulrasheed Dabai in the 58th minute and Terdoo Shimagande in the 88th sealed a famous win for the visitors.
This piled more pressure on interim coach Baba Ganaru, who took charge after head coach Evans Ogenyi was suspended following a series of poor results.
Despite dominating possession and creating more scoring opportunities, the Sai Masu Gida lacked precision in front of goal.
Pillars had 63% possession, 16 shots with five on target, and earned eight corners, but the Tornadoes’ defense held firm and punished their hosts on the counterattack.
Dabai’s well-placed finish handed the Minna-based side the lead just before the hour mark, while Shimagande’s late goal sealed the victory, silencing the Pillars’ supporters who had traveled to Katsina to back their team.
The defeat adds to Kano Pillars’ woes, coming just weeks after the club was docked three points and three goals for crowd violence— a sanction that forced them to play their home fixtures in Katsina instead of Kano.
With this latest loss, Pillars continue to flirt dangerously with relegation form, struggling to find consistency and confidence.
The once-dominant northern giants now face growing unrest from their fan base, who are becoming increasingly frustrated by the club’s decline.
Meanwhile, the victory pushes Niger Tornadoes further boosts their morale as the season enters its decisive phase.
){kind=link}