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Nigerian League champions, Enyimba, have shot to the top of the
standings at the Super Four tournament following their lone goal victory over
Sunshine Stars of Akure at the Gateway International Stadium, in Ijebu Ode.

The Aba-based outfit are favourites to win the pre-season
tournament organised by the Nigeria Premier League, but morale has been low
amongst the players following their unceremonious exit from the CAF
Confederation Cup last weekend at the hands of modest Zambian club side Zanaco.

There were still visible signs that the defeat to the Zambians
was still on the minds of the People’s Elephants, but that did not prevent the
Aba side from emerging victorious at the end of the day courtesy of a well
taken strike by Atanda Sakibu, which was at the end of the day good enough to
earn Enyimba the top spot after Wednesday’s round of matches at the Super Four
tourney.

The goal, which arrived in the 32nd minute of play, however came
against the run of play as Sunshine Stars had at that point of the game far
more possession than their more illustrious opponents but failed to translate
their dominance into goals.

Pillars forced to a draw

Earlier in the day, Kano Pillars and Kwara United had played a
goalless draw, also at the Gateway Stadium. Pillars, which finished just behind
Enyimba in the league standings at the end of last season, were the dominant
side for most of the game, despite resting most of their regulars and getting a
man sent off towards the end of the encounter watched by a sizeable crowd.

The team, managed by former Nigeria international, Salisu Yusuf,
are also in the tournament without their top scorer Ahmed Musa. The
record-breaking striker, who scored 18 goals last season for the Kano side,
eclipsing the 17-goal mark that was first set as far back as 1990 by Ishaya
Jatau, is away on international duty with the Nigeria’s Under-20 team, the
Flying Eagles and his absence, along with the other stars of the former league
champions was glaring as Pillars failed to get the better of a Kwara United
side managed by another former international Kadiri Ikhana.

Yusuf however stated that the team was not missing the services
of Ahmed Musa as the team is ready for life after the record leading scorer of
the Nigerian Premier League who will soon head out to Europe to team up with
Dutch Eredivisie outfit VVV Venlo.

Kano Pillars’ Kamilu Ammani had the best chance of the first
half on 24 minutes when he turned inside of his marker but found himself foiled
by Kwara United’s goalkeeper, Kareem Yekeen who was impressive all through the
game.

In the second half, Yusuf introduced into the game some of his
star players, but the dismissal of Shehu Shagari 15 minutes from the end, as
well as an unpardonable miss in stoppage time by Ali Rabiu, prevented Pillars
from earning a deserved victory, a situation that had Yusuf fuming at the end
of the day.

“You can’t win a tournament without scoring goals so we have to score
goals,” exclaimed the Pillars coach at the end of the game.

For his part, Ikhana gave credit to his players for earning a point from the
encounter just as he looks ahead to their next game against Enyimba on Friday;
the same day Kano Pillars will be up against Sunshine Stars. “My boys fizzled
out towards the end of the game but we will work better in our next game,” said
the former Enyimba handler, before adding: “The boys tried their best.”

Both Ikhana and Yusuf however stated that their aim in Ijebu Ode remains to
win their upcoming matches and remain in contention for the five million naira
star prize.