Ikorodu City head coach, Bright Ozegbagbe, has described his team’s 2–1 defeat to Kano Pillars on Monday as “painful,” but says the disappointment was softened by an emotional meeting with Super Eagles legend and Pillars General Manager, Ahmed Musa.
Ozegbagbe, in a Facebook post shared on Wednesday—two days after the encounter—praised the resilience shown by his players and uploaded photos taken with the former Super Eagles captain, a gesture that has since gained significant traction among fans online.
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“A difficult 2–1 loss away to Kano Pillars. Proud of the character shown by the boys, even though the result didn’t go our way. It was also a pleasure meeting Super Eagles icon and Kano Pillars GM, Ahmed Musa. We learn, we grow, we continue the journey,” he wrote.
The photos have generated hundreds of reactions, comments, and shares across both fan bases, underscoring Musa’s enduring popularity and the growing admiration for Ikorodu City’s meteoric rise this season.
The defeat, however, comes at a cost for the Lagos-based newcomers, who have now surrendered their position at the top of the NPFL standings as the competition for points intensifies.
How Kano Pillars Halted the High-Flying Oga Boys
Kano Pillars, playing at the Mohammed Dikko Stadium in Katsina— their temporary home following a league-imposed ban on their Kano venue—secured their first win of the 2025/26 NPFL season with the crucial victory over Ikorodu City.
Despite earning the three points, Pillars remain rooted to the bottom of the table with nine points from 14 matches, still nursing the effects of sanctions earlier in the season that cost them three points and three goals due to fan-related disturbances in October.
Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali put Pillars ahead just three minutes into the match, before Olakunle Alaka doubled the lead in the 30th minute.
Ikorodu City’s Joseph Arumala pulled one back late in the first half, but the Oga Boys could not find the leveller despite dominating large spells after the break.
With only four points separating them from fellow relegation-battlers Bendel Insurance and Barau FC, the survival race remains tight. For Pillars, the victory may be the much-needed spark in their fight to climb out of the relegation zone as the season edges toward its midpoint.
