Sports
Drama As Pillars, Akwa End It 0-0 After 2 Days
By Ekene Dike
The Nigeria Professional Football League clash between title contenders Kano Pillars and Akwa United on Sunday evening was abandoned due to pitch invasion after fans protested when the referee ruled out a late goal.
The tense battle for supremacy in the Nigeria top flight was rescheduled after the visitors reportedly walked off the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in protest at the referee’s decision to deny a late winner for Pillars, which would have taken them to the top of the standings.
Unusually, considering the restraint on fans placed upon NPFL fixtures by the Nigeria Football Federation in order to curb the spread of coronavirus, supporters were in attendance during the game.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, pulsating drama ensued in the closing stages of the match after Kano Pillars had the ball in the back of the net, only for the referee to deem the effort offside.
The cancellation of the late goal by the hosts provoked fans to invade the pitch forcing match officials and the visiting Akwa United team players to flee to the dressing rooms for safety.
Following the long hiatus, Kano Pillars, through their social media platform, confirmed that the encounter will continue on Monday morning ‘by 8am’.
The League Management Company are yet to comment on the situation, or clarify whether either of the teams will be charged for the misconduct.
Kano Pillars headed into the match second on the NPFL table with 49 points after 27 matches, trailing Kennedy Boboye’s Akwa United who sit at the top of the standings, by a point.
Prior to Sunday showdown, Akwa United coach Boboye called on the league management to televise the encounter, due to the stakes for both sides.
“It is a big match, the two teams are first and second so I expect the game to be on TV, ” the former Super Eagles assistant coach said.
GreenWhiteGreen GWG reports that the abandoned match was resumed from the 86th and with a free kick where the offside was spotted the day before.
After four minutes play that brought play to the regulatory 90 minutes, five minutes was added, still leading to no goal from either side bringing full time score to 0-0 after two days of tension soaked encounter.
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