The biggest fixture in the Nigeria Professional Football League calendar will take on even more significance this weekend when 2016 champions Rangers Internationals visit the metropolitan city of Kaduna to face four times champions Kano Pillars at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Sunday.
Arguably the two most successful clubs in the history of the NPFL currently occupy 3rd and 4th position on the same points, but with a goal difference heading into this mouth-watering rivalry meeting and the keep up their chase against Kwara United and Enyimba in the first and second spot respectively.
The Flying antelopes ran away with a 2-1 win over their oriental neighbours Heartland last Sunday which sees them leapfrog to 3rd on the standings with 22 points, three points shy of this season surprise table-toppers Kwara United who are on 25 points, the last time the coal city-based team lifted the NPFL title was in 2016 season after 33 years trophy drought beating El-Kanemi Warriors in front of their fans.
Salisu Abubakar’s men know Ahmadu Bello Stadium in and out, they ran away with Israel Abia’s 79th-minute goal against Jigawa Golden Stars in matchweek 03 of the NPFL, but this time it might be different as both Kano Pillars and Rangers Internationals will go all out to fight for supremacy.
On the back of losing to Dakkada last Sunday at the Nest of Champions, Kano Pillars manager Emmanuel Soccioa would have stressed to his players that they cannot afford to lose their next matches if they want to keep momentum with surprise package Kwara United, (who are on a road trip to face Wikki Tourists in Bauchi) they wanted to keep pace with Nasarawa United, Lobi Stars and their Wednesday opponent Rivers United.
Remarkably, both teams occupy second and third position on the standings with a point separating them from each other and three points adrift Kwara United
Emmanuel Lionel Soccia still has to prove himself in big games, and it’s hard to get any bigger than this one. Given their home record in the NPFL after a shock lost to Nasarawa United at home in 2017, Kano Pillars must get a result this weekend, especially since there’s a good chance that they have no serious injury in their dugout.
With Rabiu Ali, Nyima Nwagua, Victor Denis and Jibrin Mustapha will be available for this one, Kano Pillars’ creative burden will fall on the shoulders of Rabiu Ali, who has been at the club for most of his career and with 45 goals to his credit will be available for this encounters. Preventing him from doing the damage will be the key to Rangers International getting a result, and if Gerard Piqué confirms the rumors and plays on Tuesday.
The league form is improving week in, week out with the league returning to live broadcast on television screen and mobile app, both teams are slightly healthier coming into this one, but they are yet to win a truly big game this season. In fact, they haven’t even played well in a truly big game.
Last matches Kano Pillars
Akwa Starlets 3-2 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 Sunshine Stars
Lobi Stars 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 MFM FC
FC Ifeanyi Ubah 0-1 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 2-0 Jigawa Golden Stars
Akwa United 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 1-0 Rivers United FC
Last matches Enugu Rangers
Rangers International 2-0 Heartland
Wikki Tourist 2-1 Rangers International
Rangers International 1-0 Kwara United
Abia Warriors 1-0 Rangers International
Rangers International 1-0 Warri Wolves FC
Rangers International 3-0 Dakkada FC
Sunshine Stars 3-1 Rangers International
Rangers International 0-0 Lobi Stars
Previous Meetings
Enugu Rangers 1-0 Kano Pillars
Enugu Rangers 1-1 Kano Pillars
Enugu Rangers 1-1 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 2-0 Enugu Rangers
Enugu Rangers 3-1 Kano Pillars
Enugu Rangers 1-0 Kano Pillars
Kano Pillars 2-1 Enugu Rangers
Teams Kano Pillars Enugu Rangers played so far 23 matches.
Kano Pillars won 10 direct matches. Enugu Rangers won 10 matches. 3 matches ended in a draw. On average in direct matches both teams scored a 2.30 goals per Match.
Kano Pillars in actual season average scored 1.08 goals per match. In 2 (33.33%) matches played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 0 (0.00%) matches in season 2021 played at home was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Enugu Rangers average scored 1.08 goals per match in season 2021. In 3 (50.00%) matches played away were total goals (team and opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 2 (33.33%) matches played away team was total goals (team and opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Kano Pillars Possible Lineups
Idris Ibrahim; Mustapha Jibrin; Chris Madaki; Gerome Hechong; Ndasi Denis Kadiang; Auwalu Ali Malam; Usman Babalolo; Nwagua Nyima; Yusuf Bala Maigoro; Rabi’u Ali (C); David Ebuka
Rangers International Possible Lineups
Nana Bonsu, Ifeanyi Nweke, Isaac Loute; Tony Shimaga, Uche John, Ernest Governor, Chiamaka Madu Israel Abia, Christian Nnaji; Godspower Aniefiok Tower; Chidiebere Nwobodo
