Nigeria Professional Football League giants, Kano Pillars, on Sunday emerged champions of the maiden Presidential Pre-season Cup in Abuja.
The tournament, which held at the renovated Moshood Abiola
National Stadium, Abuja, saw Kano Pillars holding Akwa United to a 1-1 draw on
the final day to emerge winners.
Ezekiel Bassey opened scoring for Akwa United in the 23rd
minute and the Uyo-based club side held on to the lead for a very long time as
they looked poised to win the match.
However, that was not to be as Kokoette Udoh got the
equaliser for Pillars in the 86th minute to share the spoils at the end of a
pulsating encounter.
The result meant Pillars earned seven points after recording
two wins and a draw to edge other invited clubs including Sunshine stars, Lobi
stars and Akwa United.
“We are very happy to have emerged winners of this
tournament which is also very good for the team in terms of our preparation for
the new league season proper.
“The tournament has indeed afforded us the opportunity of
seeing all strengths as well as our weaknesses.
“So we will go back and correct all our mistakes ahead of
our first game.
“Incidentally, we play against the same opposition we faced
today (Akwa United), and winning them has given us a psychological edge ahead
of the matchday encounter,” Coach Ibrahim Musa of Kano Pillars said.
Sunshine Stars finished second with six points after falling
1-3 to Kano Pillars, before recording two consecutive wins including a 2-1 win
against Akwa United and a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars on the final day.
Akwa United settled for the third spot with four points
after recording 1-0 win against Lobi Stars, a 1-2 defeat against Sunshine
Stars, and a 1-1 draw against Kano Pillars.
Lobi Stars finished at the bottom of the log with no points
following their three straight defeats at the end of the tournament.
The tournament which began on Friday came to an end on
Sunday.
-NAN