Kano Pillars crash out of ACL

Nigeria’s representative in the CAF Champions League, Kano Pillars, Saturday evening crashed out of the most prestigious club competition in Africa.
The Nigerian team defeated Moroccan club, Moghreb Athletic de Tétouan (MAT), 2-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano but still crashed out 2-5 on aggregate to the Moroccans.
Pillars slowed down by the armed robbery incident that crippled the team for weeks dominated the early exchanges at the Sani Abacha Stadium and had gilt-edged opportunities through Ezekiel Mbah and Adamu Hassan, but this was not enough to see them through.
The hosts had a very difficult first-leg which they lost 0-4 to the Moroccans a fortnight ago and they were made to rue missed chances when Moghreb Athletic de Tétouan scored the game’s only goal late in the first half.
Mouhcine Iajour, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg, was the man who practically ensured Pillars’ hopes basically went up in smoke with a neat finish on 33 minutes.
Pillars now had to score six times as well as ensure they kept their fluid-playing opponents at bay at the other end to progress to the second round.
It was always going to prove a difficult ask but Pillars went about the task the right way and were back on level terms 13 minutes after the break through Tony Edjomariegwe.
Moghreb Athletic de Tétouan’s was shown a red card for a second bookable offence midway into the second half but the visitors defended manfully before eventually conceding a second late on.
Rabiu Ali gave Pillars the win but it was purely academic as his lack of celebration exemplified.
The Moroccans saw off the game to close out a truly famous aggregate victory.