NASARAWA UNITED DISMANTLES KANO PILLARS IN NORTHERN DERBY TUNE-UP GAME

The Solid Miners put up an impressive show on Saturday evening to dismantle CAF Confederations Cup-bound Kano Pillars in a preseason friendly game at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, in Kaduna.

Kano Pillars who were playing at their adopted home fell behind as early as the 4th minute after Chinedu Ohanachom found enough space to guide the ball beyond Joshua Enaholo from a well-placed pass from Silas Nwankwo.

Kano Pillars poured men forward in search of an equalizer but found a wall in the Nasarawa United defense as marshaled by ex Kano Pillars man, Austin Uzochukwu.

Nasarawa United dictated the pace of the game as they led narrowly into half-time.

Chinedu Ohanachom doubled Nasarawa United’s lead with his second goal of the game in the 48th minute as Silas Nwankwo was again the provider.

Silas Nwankwo would, however, benefit from his benevolence as he was able to poke home from a well- crafted pass from Sadiq Abdulrazaq to make the game safe for the Solid Miners.

After coming on for two goal-hero, Chinedu Ohanachom, Adamu Hassan made an instant statement as he joined the party with a goal from the penalty spot after he was apprehended on the way to goal in the 64th minute.

Two minutes later, the former Kano Pillars attacker completed his brace as he scored from a difficult angle to hand Nasarawa United a 5-0 trumping of the Sai Masu Gida to set another domestic record on the Coach Emmanuel Soccia Lionel-led team as the first team ever to beat them that much.

Despite the result, Technical Adviser, Bala Nikyu, said Nasarawa United is still a work in progress, adding that there were still areas to work on in the team before the new football league begins.

“Winning 5-0 is not the issue, but making corrections where necessary. We want to get it right before the league commences”, he said.

Club Chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi was full of praises for his wards but said it was not yet Uhuru.

“Thank you for a job well done. Let us keep our heads very low, but remain focused because the main test is in the league.”

The Solid Miners will take on Simo-Iben Football Academy in the morning, on Sunday, 22nd November, before wrapping up their preseason tour of the North with a game against 2019/2020 NPFL table toppers, Plateau United in Jos, on Monday morning.

NASARAWA UNITED X1: Danlami Umar, Abdullahi Abubakar, Ini Edem, Sadiq Abdulrazaq, Austin Uzochukwu, Emeka Onyema, Aliyu Abdullahi(Anas Yusuf 78′), Ikenna Ofor(Barnabas Imenger 70′), Chinedu Ohanachom(Adamu Hassan 60′, Joshua Obaje 70′), Haggai Katoh(Ewuga 78′), Silas Nwankwo.

KANO PILLARS X1: Joshua Enaholo, Victor Dennis, Fahad Usman, Ike Chinedu, Abdullahi Musa, Ndasi Ngwegwe Okon Anneke(Nwagua Nyima 61′), Ayo Abayomi Junior, Rabi’u Ali Pele(Kenneth Ania 61′), Auwalu Ali Malam, Ibuka David.