In a breathtaking match at the Cathedral, Rangers International FC suffered their first home defeat of the season, falling 3-4 to Kano Pillars in a dramatic encounter.
Kano Pillars, led by an outstanding Ahmed Musa, produced a stunning performance to take all three points.
Kano Pillars struck early when Ahmed Musa won a penalty in the 15th minute. Ali R. coolly converted from the spot, giving the visitors the lead. The pressure from Pillars continued, and in the 28th minute, Musa provided a precise pass to Rabiu Z., who slotted the ball past the Rangers goalkeeper to double the advantage.
Kano Pillars were relentless, and in the 37th minute, Ahmed Musa won yet another penalty after a dazzling run into the box. Once again, Ali R. stepped up to take the spot-kick and made no mistake, extending Pillars’ lead to 3-0.
However, the first-half drama wasn’t over. In the dying moments of added time, Musa capped off his brilliant first-half display with a solo goal in the 45+1 minute, weaving through the Rangers defense and firing home to put Kano Pillars 4-0 up going into the break.
Rangers, determined not to go down without a fight, mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. Saviour I. scored twice for the home side, first in the 48th minute and again in the 60th, narrowing the deficit to 4-2.
Nerot S. added a late goal for Rangers in stoppage time (90+1), but it wasn’t enough to salvage a point, as the match ended 4-3 in favor of Kano Pillars.
Ahmed Musa was the key figure, with his involvement in all of Pillars’ goals—winning two penalties, assisting one goal, and scoring a brilliant solo effort.
Rangers will be left to reflect on their defensive lapses, while Kano Pillars will celebrate a hard-fought victory in a memorable encounter.