MFM, Pillars share points at Agege Stadium

High flying MFM Football Club could not regain leadership of the NPFL following a gutsy 1-1 draw with four-time champions Kano Pillars but they served further notice of their ambitions.

At an Agege Stadium packed to the rafters, MFM's Musa Newman sent the crowd wild with the first goal of the match with 25 minutes played. But Rabiu Ali leveled scores for Sai Maisugida from the spot on the 67th minute.

MFM had won all their games at the Agege Stadium, often with a swagger less expected of a newly promoted side. But they needed no telling that this would be the most difficult yet. Pillars are adept at grinding out results on the road and fancied their chances here.

Yet the less experienced MFM settled down quicker. In Musa Newman and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, they had willing runners who mix rude skills with purpose.

Those were what contributed to their team winning a free-kick on the 24th minute that Ifeanyi placed against the post with Pillars keeper David Obiozor a mere spectator.

That was a strong enough warning to the men from Kano. But they did not heed it. With Newman playing a role, defender Okorom Stanley had enough time he shouldn't have been given to control the ball in the Pillars box, he took a man out of the way before unleashing a short that slightly deflected off  Zaharadeen Bello. It forced an eruption of cheers from the largest crowd to witness a league game at the Agege Stadium.

Aggrey was Pillars' immediate source of response. His run down the right wing preceded a shot that did not worry MFM keeper Aiyeyemi.

Newman then went close to getting a second for MFM but his rasping shot was a few inches wide.

Pillars almost drew level in the closing stages of the first half but Aiyeyemi denied Alhaji Adamu from point blank range.

Pillars resumed in the second half with a lot more purpose to their approach. But Aiyeyemi was an inspired obstacle between the sticks. His sharp reflexes was just perfect to prevent Rabiu Ali equalising after ghosting in with a header.

Adamu Hassan was also denied by Aiyeyemi from a header. The former ABS and Kaduna United keeper was up to everything from open play.

Understandably, he was to be beaten by a dead ball midway into the second half.

Aggrey's pace on the right had occasionally troubled MFM.   He was brought down just outside the MFM box. But the referee, not blessed with the benefit of television replay in that instance,  awarded a penalty which was cooly taken by captain Rabiu Ali.

Yet MFM could have won it. Inside five minutes of added time. Ifeanyi had an unwanted deja vu striking. His well placed free kick again struck the post. It should have been the winner.

Kano Pillars escaped that moment by the skin of their teeth. But overall, 1-1 was fair to both sides.

It was the sort of entertainment served by the 'David' and 'Goliath' of the NPFL that won not a few converts to a fast growing league world over as it trended on twitter, that's aside the little matter of many fans calling for more night kickoffs like this.