Kano Pillars’ goalkeeper, Abuchi Destiny Okeke, has been named the Man of the Match in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) outstanding Matchday 20 fixture against El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.
The Independent Mirror reports that the Sai Masu Gida left it late to secure a 2-1 victory, thanks to a dramatic 90th-minute winner from Rashid Alasan.
The four-time NPFL champions endured a challenging afternoon, with the visitors displaying an impressive attacking performance.
However, Abuchi Okeke’s outstanding reflexes and excellent positioning ensured Kano Pillars went into halftime with a clean sheet.
The summer signing produced a series of brilliant saves, denying the Federation Cup holders an early second-half lead.
His heroics between the sticks kept the game level until club legend Rabiu Ali converted from the penalty spot to break the deadlock.
Moments later, El-Kanemi Warriors responded with a penalty of their own, awarded after a foul inside the box.
This was the first penalty conceded by Kano Pillars in the ongoing NPFL season.
After the match, Abuchi Destiny Okeke expressed his gratitude to the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kano State Chapter for recognizing his performance.
He also vowed to continue working hard to help the team climb the league table.
The Man of the Match Award, organized by SWAN Kano Chapter, honours the best individual performance during Kano Pillars’ home games.
The initiative has been in place for the past 10 seasons, rewarding standout displays from Sai Masu Gida and visiting players.
Looking ahead, Kano Pillars will return to action on Saturday, 15th February 2025, when they host Abia Warriors for their Matchday 24 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata.
