Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali, 44, and returnee forward Ahmed Musa, who recently rejoined the club for a third stint this season, have been instrumental to the club’s recent run of form. ABIODUN ADEWALE writes about the duo’s contributions to the four-time champions’ resurgence on and off the field
Another day, another goal for Ahmed Musa and Rabiu Ali in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
To complement the electric atmosphere that greeted Pillars’ return to Kano since the start of the campaign, Musa and Ali showed the over 16,000 fans inside the Sani Abacha Stadium what they have been missing, scoring their fifth and seventh goals of the season, respectively, in the nervy 2-2 draw against Heartland on Sunday.
But that was just on the pitch, as they even offered the team more off it.
Moments after the full-time whistle sounded during their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Plateau United on Sunday, November 3, Musa, who had scored the winning goal in the game, jogged across the pitch, waving at intervals to a handful of fans who came to watch them at their adopted home ground in Katsina.
As he approached the exit gate of the mainbowl leading to the dressing room and by extension the parking lot, Kano Pillars’ fans, who had gathered there, raised their voices with different utterances in the Hausa language as the former Leicester forward signalled to them to exercise some patience.
The fans had been irked by what they perceived as wrong calls by the match officials, which could have prevented them from winning.
While this went on, our correspondent was sandwiched between security operatives, who were preventing the fans from encroaching on the gate as they were only waiting for the gate to be opened so they could wreak havoc.
Musa had to be allowed to go in between the fans, appealing them, saying “kuyi hakuri,” which means exercise patience, explaining that the three points were already in the bag.
A few minutes later, Ali, their star midfielder and the oldest player in the Nigerian topflight, also joined Musa in placating the fans, whom they eventually won over. They applauded both players and turned their chants to “well-done skipper,” as interpreted by our correspondent’s fixer, Balarabe Musa, who is also a Kano Pillars fan.
Such is the influence of Musa and Ali at the club on and off the pitch, which has earned them respect among the fans of the former Nigerian champions, having carried the team on their shoulders this term.
Musa and Ali also scored both goals that won them the game, and it was a no-brainer to have them interface with the fans to avert a crisis that could have caused them points deduction and a ban, as it happened to Bendel Insurance, a team they played a week later in Benin-City and Plateau United on their return to Jos against Rangers International.
Ali, 44, and Musa, 32, have contributed 12 of the club’s 16 goals in the NPFL this season, showing some dynamism that has helped the club stay in line with their ambition.
Ahmed Musa effect
After about nine months away from competitive football, Musa rejoined Pillars after five games into the campaign, and he made an instant impact, scoring a brace in their 2-0 win over Sunshine Stars in Katsina. He could have marked his return to the NPFL with a hat-trick, but he was first denied by a wicked handball by Sunshine Stars Ogechukwu Ogbu, who got a straight red card for stopping the goal-bound ball, before he latched the resultant penalty against the post.
The match-day five game against Sunshine Stars marked the beginning of Musa’s third stint with Kano Pillars, having played for his boyhood club in 2009/10—when he emerged as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals—and 2021.
“Back in familiar colours, and it feels so good! I am grateful to the entire backroom staff, my teammates, and the management of Kano Pillars FC for believing in me and giving me this opportunity to return.
“To the amazing supporters and everyone who came out to watch, thank you for the love and the energy. Scoring two goals and earning that penalty was just the start—we’ve got a lot more coming; this is only the beginning.” Musa wrote on X after the game.
Indeed, there was more to come from the most-capped Super Eagles player, as he added two more goals to his tally against Enugu Rangers and Plateau United and also winning crucial penalties and freekicks that led to other goals.
Musa’s return to Kano Pillars has been nothing short of phenomenal. The experienced forward has brought a level of sophistication and finesse to the team’s attack, especially with his pace, with which he terrorised reigning champions Rangers International at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, scoring a goal and winning two penalties in a dramatic 4-3 win for the Sai Masu Gida.
He also scored a stoppage-time winner in their 2-1 win over Plateau United at home before winning another penalty that secured them a 1-0 win over Bendel Insurance for their second away victory of the season.
Musa has scored five goals in seven matches and also had a hand in four other goals, averaging a goal contribution every 79 minutes for Pillars.
Ali the old wine
Midfield maestro Ali can be described as the hub on which the attacking wheel of the former champions rotates. The 44-year-old playmaker has consistently delivered pin-point passes, unlocking defences and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
Ali is the club’s leading scorer so far this season with seven goals, including three superb free kicks. He started the campaign with a brace in their 3-0 win over new boys Ikorodu City in September and went five games without a goal before adding another brace against Rangers International in Enugu.
His last two goals were crucial: a freekick to level matters at home against Plateau United on matchday 10 and a stoppage-time penalty to steal a 1-0 win over Insurance in Benin-City.
At 44, he has only missed 12 minutes of action in 11 games this season.
Pele, as he is fondly called by fans, Ali doesn’t offer much defensively due to his lack of pace, but the midfielder still stunningly carries himself with so much power inside the opponent’s half and is more deadly with the ball at his feet in dead ball situations.
If that seems like a drawback for the team, last season, in the same role, he scored 10 goals and provided nine assists.
At his age, Ali is the second-oldest active footballer in the world behind 57-year-old Japanese Miura Kazuyoshi and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
Dynamic duo
Musa and Ali’s influence at Pillars transcends the pitch.
The duo’s understanding on the pitch is remarkable, with Musa often finding space and scoring thanks to Ali’s clever passes. Their partnership has yielded numerous match-winning performances, leaving fans and pundits alike in awe.
At their training ground at the Air Force Base, Sabon Gari, Kano, both players are hero-worshipped by fans, who believe they are still crucial to Nigeria’s national team setups.
One of those fans is Mohammed Mohammed, who started watching Kano Pillars since their formation in 1990.
“Rabiu Ali is a good midfielder who doesn’t only give passes but also scores. Last season he was our top scorer, and this time around, he is also doing the same, and I support him to be on the national team regardless of how old he is. For me, he is worthy of a place on that team.
“To have Musa back is also special, and since I couldn’t go to Katsina to watch their matches, I always make sure I come here to at least see him train with the team,” Mohammed said.
Kano Pillars coach, Usman Abdallah, also believes Musa’s return to the NPFL this time around is even better, thanks to the chemistry within the team.
“It’s different this time, and I think he feels more comfortable, and you can see from his performance,” Abdallah told The PUNCH.
“Rabiu is always there; he is a loyal player who gives 100 per cent every time. We also have the inclusion of Shehu Abdullahi, who made his comeback into the team slowly and steadily, and we saw how he gave everything in Benin-City.
“With their experience, they will be able to guide the young ones, and the team will be better. We are not perfect yet. We are happy about their performances, and there is more to come from them.”
Return to Kano
As the team returns to the Sani Abacha Stadium, Musa and Ali must brace for the task of shouldering the emotions of over 16,000 fans, who will throng the Sani Abacha Stadium for every home game.
The fans in Kano have waited long enough for their return, and it’s certainly going to be ‘aura for aura’ as they watch two of the most influential players in Nigerian football.
Will Musa and Ali continue to drive Kano Pillars’ success? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: their partnership has reignited the passion and excitement of the NPFL beyond the city of Kano, as seen during their away games, where fans and players line up to take photos with both players.