By Amaechi Agbo

Enugu – The Presence of Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa in the lineup for Kano Pillars against Rangers International FC in Enugu on Wednesday in one of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League matchday 7 midweek encounters saw the visitors pick all three points from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

The Former Leicester City star showed class and masterminded Pillars’ leading Rangers 4-0 at half time at the Cathedral. Rangers looked ordinary and spineless at home as Musa who recently rejoined his boyhood club registered three assist and scores one on the day.

Musa and his midfield marshal. Rabiu Ali combined effectively to give Rangers fans an uncomfortable moment especially in the first half. Although Rangers rallied in the second half and scored three goals, it was already too late for the Flying Antelopes o surmount the hurdle ahead of them.

It was indeed a better forgotten first period performance by the NPFL reigning champions, Rangers International F.C as they surrendered the maximum points at stake to an Ahmed Musa inspired Kano Pillars F.C in a seven-goal thriller inside Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

The home side’s technical crew started much with the squad that lost by a lone goal at the weekend with the quartet of Japhet Opubo, Ikenna Stephen, Agu Kenechukwu and Anayor Ogbonna making the starting team but it was the visitors that had legendary Rabiu Ali and former Super Eagles’ captain, Ahmed Musa and national team mate, Shehu Abdullahi that got their rhythm the quickest in the encounter.

Two penalty kicks that were neatly converted by Rabiu Ali on 18 and 41 minutes after the referee spotted a handball incidence and a tripping incidence as well as a cool finish by Zulkifilu Muhammad on 29 minutes off a cross from Ahmed Musa and a sublime solo goal by him on 45+2 minutes gave the visitors a commanding 0-4 lead going into the break.

However, a quartet of substitutions from the coaching crew of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ that saw Hillary Ekawu, Anayor Ogbonna, Ikenna Stephen and Chiedozie Okorie exit the stage for Saviour Isaac, Frank Uwumiro, Silas Nenrot and Effimi Nsi, turned the tide towards the home side as Saviour Isaac fired home on 46 and 58 minutes to half the deficit while Silas Nenrot slotted home another on 90 minutes after being set up by Frank Uwumiro. But there was no opportunity to repeat another come-back win for the Enugu side as was the case in an Aiteo Cup final in Asaba in 2018 though, Kazeem Ogunleye and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi greased the upright and cross-bar in quick succession.