The 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season kicked off in fine style on Sunday at the Umuahia Township Stadium, where Abia Warriors edged past visiting Kano Pillars 1–0 in a tightly contested matchday one encounter.
The game began with a lively atmosphere as the home supporters created a rousing backdrop for the season’s curtain-raiser. The visitors nearly stunned the hosts early on when a 5th-minute corner kick from Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa was met by Malam Auwalu Ali, whose header rattled the goalpost to keep the scoreline level.
Despite the scare, the Warriors grew into the game, and their persistence paid off in the 35th minute. A scramble in the box fell kindly to Paul Samson, who reacted quickest to poke the ball home — registering Abia Warriors’ first goal of the new NPFL season.
The first half ended with Abia Warriors leading 1–0, and although Kano Pillars pressed hard in the second half, the hosts stood firm at the back. The most dramatic moment came deep into stoppage time when Pillars thought they had found an equalizer, but the referee ruled it out for offside, sparking heated protests from the visiting bench.
At the final whistle, Abia Warriors held on for a narrow but vital 1–0 win, sending their fans into jubilation while Kano Pillars were left frustrated.
The result gives Abia Warriors a perfect start to their NPFL campaign, securing maximum points at home and laying down a marker for the season ahead. For Kano Pillars, it was a disappointing evening in Umuahia, as they return to the pyramid city empty-handed and already chasing their first points of the season.
With this victory, Abia Warriors sit comfortably among the early frontrunners on the NPFL table, while Kano Pillars must regroup quickly to avoid a shaky start in the race for supremacy.
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