Saturday Football Gist: Kano Pillars Out,Interesting Result In NNL

Kangiwa Memorial Stadium, Sokoto

Kano Pillars in their second attempt in two years on the continent couldn't just last long to feature in the CAF Champions League group stage.DR Congo team, AS Vital showed Pillars the exit door on the continent. Last year it was AC Leopard of Congo Brazzaville that knocked Masu Gida out of the CCL.

AS Vital of DR Congo got a goal first in the second leg match played in Kano but Kabiru Umar and Abdul Haruna's goal wasn't just good enough for Kano Pillars as
Masu Gida bow out of the CAF Champions League again. A 2-1 win in Kano but a 3-4 aggregate score line saw AS Vital advance to the next stage.

The Nigeria National League kicked off as expected as new boys Go Round FC from Porthacourt piped Prime FC of Osogbo by a lone goal. More action went down on Saturday February 15th 2014.

Jos base teams have started with their red hot form just like they did the previous season, Mighty Jet of Jos thought Spotlight FC from Katsina some football basics with a 3-0 victory at the Rwang Pam stadium Jos. Kwara United will be celebrating right now as the Afonja Warriors picked a vital point away to Sokoto United.

COD United of Lagos in their third season in the NNL have just shown how tough it has been for them to adapt to the Onikan stadium. They've struggled at the base of the log each season needing either goals or a point to save them from relegation. The White Lions in almost an empty stadium lost a one goal lead in the first half as they allowed the Rock City Boys level up.

Fatai Osho has taken his magic wand to Kogi United, the former Remo Stars coach now coach of Kogi United saw his team win by 3-1 against the Bees from Kaduna. Newly formed Ekiti United started their debut campaign in the NNL with a slim 1-0 loss to Akwa Starlet.

Another Lagos team, First Bank FC lost by a lone goal to Bendel Insurance of Benin but the Captain of the visiting team, Abu Ali told Footyalert after the match that the league is a marathon and that the Big Elephant will get things right.

"We played a good game but Insurance took the opportunity that came their way while we just couldn't convert our's. It's a marathon we shall focus on the next game," said Abu Ali.

Coach Uche Okagbue's team, FRSC FC also threw away a first half lead as they allowed Adamawa United come back to level up. 2013 Lagos Federation Cup finalist, MFM FC forced Unicem Rovers to repeat what they did to them in their week one fixtures last season. In the previous season Bolowotan FC started the season with a barren draw against Unicem Rovers at the Agege stadium before their slot was taken over by MFM FC and interestingly MFM also picked a point in Calabar against Unicem Rovers.

The NNL board will start attending to issues right from week one as fans invaded the pitch at the Hadejia stadium, home of Jigawa Golden Stars. Wikki Tourist of Bauchi were leading courtesy of a goal by Yakubu Victor but things took a different turn in the 84th minute when some fans suddenly went into the pitch to beat up the players while the police men just looked on. It took the intervention of some army officers before peace was restored.

CAF Champions League- Kano Pillars 2:1 AS VITA (Agg. 3:4).

NNL
Unicem Rovers 0:0 MFM FC
FRSC1:1 Adamawa Utd.
Akwa Starlet 1:0 Ekiti Utd.
Kogi Utd 3:1 Ranchers Bees.
COD Utd 1:1 Gateway Utd
Sokoto Utd 0:0 Kwara Utd.
Mighty Jets 3:0 Spotlight.
Go Round FC 1:0 Prime FC.
Jigawa GS 0:1 Wikki Tourist. (Abandoned in the 84th minute)