Sports
Kano Pillars Signs two Europe returnees, four others
Kano Pillars FC have added six new players to their ranks during the mid-season transfer window as they look to shore up the former league champions in the second stanza of the Nigeria Premier Football League.
Sai Masu Gida delved into the transfer market to purchase former Lillestrom of Norway midfielder, Charles Ezeh and Alex Jerry who staged a return to the team after his stint in the Maltese Premier League.
Other players acquired include Dawud Ibrahim, a left-back from Kebbi United, Uzogara Kennedy, a central defender from Rivers United.
In attack, the club has secured the services of three strikers—Eshimitu Gomino Eya from FRSC, Hadi Mohammed Olanrewaju from Bayelsa United.
These signings aim to add the necessary depth and quality as the Sai Masu Gida seek to refine their season and push for stronger performances in the league.
Meanwhile, the club announced the departure of four players from the club. Usman Aminu Maidubji and Yusuf Abdullahi have moved on loan to NNL side Barau FC and Plateau United, respectively, until the end of the season.
Additionally, Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Anaful’s contract was terminated by mutual consent, while striker Abdulmajeed Aminu is set to complete a move to South African side Moneni Pirates.
While bidding farewell to the departing players, the club’s chairman, Alhaji Ali Muhammad Umar, welcomed the new signings and urged them to give their best in restoring Kano Pillars to its glory .
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.