NPFL: Barau battle Kano Pillars in empty stadium

By Tosin Omojola –

The Sani Abacha Stadium will play host to FC Barau and Kano Pillars in the first official NPFL derby between both sides.

Unfortunately, the stands will be empty for this tie due to the closure of the arena to fans by the NPFL, following the crowd trouble that accompanied last weekend’s matchday seven encounter involving Pillars and Shooting Stars.

Both teams go into this matchday nine fixture facing crises beyond their struggles on the pitch. Pillars are still reeling from the heavy sanctions imposed on them by the NPFL after last weekend’s violence.

FC Barau, on the other hand, have been grappling with coaching issues ahead of this game, with conflicting reports surrounding the club’s technical department.

Nevertheless, the match is expected to be fiercely contested as both teams battle to overcome their current challenges with positive results.

In other matchday nine fixtures, El-Kanemi Warriors will host Wikki Tourists, Abia Warriors will visit Shooting Stars, while Niger Tornadoes will entertain Plateau United in Minna.

Elsewhere, Enyimba FC will face Warri Wolves in Aba, while table-toppers Nasarawa United will take on Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. Kwara United will also welcome Katsina United to Ilorin.

Meanwhile, matches involving Bendel Insurance versus Rivers United and Remo Stars against Rangers International have been put on hold due to the participation of Rivers United and Remo Stars in CAF Champions League duties this weekend.