By Aderonke Ojo
Against the run of play, Nasarawa United suffered a 0-1 defeat at the hands of visiting Kano Pillars FC on Wednesday evening at the Lafia City Stadium.
The home team kick-started their second stanza of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign behind closed doors following renovation works at some portions of the Stadium, with high expectations of overturning their 3-0 away loss to the same opposition a fortnight ago in Kano.
Despite dominating ball possession throughout the encounter, the Solid Miners failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities, with Umar Ada, Anas Yusuf, and Jofrank Istifanus each squandering glaring chances, which would ultimately give Okorie Jude the luxury of space to score the decisive goal for the Ahmed Musa-led Kano Pillars in the fiercely contested affair.
Wednesdays loss, which is the first this season for the hosts, sees the Solid Miners drop to 5th position on the league table with 32 points, ten more points ahead of Pillars who are 18th, a development coach Mangut Mbwas described as a bitter pill to swallow as he expressed his disappointment.
Nasarawa United will host 7th-placed Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, 18th January, 2026, at the Lafia City Stadium by 4pm.
MANGUT MBWAS(T/A – NAS): We were the better side today, but sometimes, that’s not just enough.
“We created chances, especially in the first-half, but we couldn’t finish them off, and they capitalized on the slip from our defender to score the goal that separated both sides.
“In fact, today’s defeat comes with a lot of pains because it’s the first time we are losing at home since the beginning of this season.
“We thought we could get a push up the ladder today, but it was rather a setback. However, the league is yet to be over. We will regroup and come back stronger in our next home game, as I expect a different result.
“We acquired some new players and they are blending fastly with the established players already.”
MOHAMMED BABA GANARU(T/A – PIL): “It was a good game today.
“I had told my players to put the same commitment they put in our last game against Nasarawa United in Kano, and I am glad they didn’t disappoint.
“Nasarawa United are a very good team, and played far better today than they did against us in Kano in the last game of the first-stanza.
“We read their game plan very well, and decided to defend massively to avoid conceding against them here because they are very good on the ball.
“No doubts, today’s victory is a massive boost in our fight for survival.”
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD):
Abubakar Abdullahi(NAS)56′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Darlintin Ovunda, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mubarak Hussaini, Chidera Nduka, Utake Emmanuel, Victor John, Ada Umar(Idris Ajiya 61′), Anas Yusuf(Pam Samuel 61′), Ekeson Okorie(Ekeson Okorie 83′), John Joshua, Jofrank Istifanus(Akanni Lawal 83′).
UNUSED SUBS: Ameh Godwin, Prince Ikemdinachi, Ngwei Luka, Amadi Bright, Manga Mohammed.