Kano Pillars head coach Daniel Ogunmodede has expressed delight after his team ended their five-match winless run with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over north-west rivals Katsina United in the Nigeria Premier Football League, describing winning as the motivation that has driven his coaching career for three decades.
The Sai Masu Gida secured the crucial three points at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday, October 18, 2026, delivering a timely response after a frustrating spell without victory. The result offered relief to the players, coaching staff and supporters, who had been waiting for the team to rediscover its winning touch.
For Ogunmodede, the victory was about more than just three points. It was an opportunity for his players to demonstrate their resilience under pressure and restore confidence after five consecutive matches without a win.
Yahaya Ibrahim proved to be the difference between the two sides, scoring the decisive goal in the sixth minute to give Kano Pillars an early advantage in the fiercely contested encounter.
The early breakthrough gave the hosts the perfect start in a fixture that carried considerable importance for both teams. With the home supporters eager to see their side return to winning ways, Ibrahim’s goal provided an immediate lift and placed Katsina United on the back foot.
However, scoring early did not mean the task was complete. Kano Pillars still had to remain disciplined, manage their advantage and prevent their regional rivals from finding an equaliser.
The hosts responded to that challenge with a determined defensive performance, protecting their lead until the final whistle. Katsina United attempted to fight their way back into the contest, but Pillars held firm to secure a clean sheet and claim all three points.
Speaking after the match, Ogunmodede praised his players for their fighting spirit and their ability to deliver despite the pressure surrounding the team.
He acknowledged the importance of ending the winless run, noting that his players had responded positively in a derby that demanded concentration, determination and commitment.
The technical adviser also congratulated his squad for securing a victory that rewarded the team’s efforts and gave the supporters something to celebrate.
Ogunmodede was particularly pleased with the balance between his team’s attacking play and defensive organisation. While Ibrahim’s early strike ultimately decided the contest, the coach recognised that protecting the advantage was equally important.
The clean sheet demonstrated the team’s ability to remain organised after taking the lead, ensuring that their attacking breakthrough was not wasted.
For the former Remo Stars coach, the result also reflected a fundamental expectation of his profession: winning matches.
Ogunmodede made it clear that the desire to win has remained central to his approach throughout his career, stressing that delivering results is an essential responsibility of his position.
His comments underlined the importance of the victory at a time when Kano Pillars needed a positive result to arrest their declining momentum and rebuild confidence within the squad.
The result could prove an important turning point for a team that entered the fixture under pressure following five matches without a win. Although one victory does not automatically resolve the issues behind a difficult run, it provides a foundation on which the players can begin rebuilding their confidence.
Kano Pillars will now be expected to build on the performance and demonstrate that the derby triumph represents the beginning of a more consistent spell rather than an isolated success.
The club’s supporters will also hope that Ibrahim’s decisive contribution signals the team’s ability to take advantage of early opportunities and manage matches more effectively.
For Katsina United, meanwhile, the narrow defeat will be a disappointment after a contest in which they were unable to find a response to the hosts’ early goal. The team must now regroup and address the shortcomings that prevented them from leaving Kano with a positive result.
The victory also reinforces the significance of local rivalries in Nigerian football, where matches between neighbouring clubs often carry additional emotional weight for supporters and players.
For Kano Pillars, however, the immediate priority is clear: turn the relief of ending their winless run into sustained progress in the NPFL.
Ogunmodede has made no secret of his ambition to win, and his team’s performance against Katsina United offered a reminder of what can be achieved when attacking efficiency is matched by defensive discipline.
The three points belong to Kano Pillars, but the real test begins with their next fixture. If the Sai Masu Gida can carry the same determination into their upcoming matches, Sunday’s derby victory could become the result that helps restore their season.
For now, Ibrahim’s sixth-minute strike and a resilient defensive display have given Ogunmodede and the Kano faithful a much-needed reason to celebrate..
