By Wale Mustapha
Rabiu Ali scored twice as Kano Pillars brushed aside Akwa United 3-0 to emerged champions of maiden Ahlan Cup Preseason Soccer Tournament on Sunday.
The one sided affairs played at the Sanni Abacha Stadium in Kano saw Pillars produced one of the best performance in their tune up matches showing their intention to be a strong contenders in the coming Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL season.
Akwa United had a positive start in the final with their early runnings into areas, Tenton Yenne get the ball on the right, picked out Emmanuel Ariwachukwu in the middle, but the defender's header forced Kano Pillars's goalkeeper David Obiazo to a sharp reflex save.
Pillars pumped forward looking for Nyima and he earned a free kick with his physical presence. It was whipped into the box, before being headed out by Emmanuel Ariwachukw.
The hosts took the lead in the 14th minutes with one touch approach and it landed in the net. Alhassan Ibrahim sets up Rabiu Ali with a well measured pass, the attacking midfielder did well to finish up the move with a low grounder beyond Olorunleke Ojo.
Kano Pillars doubled their lead in the 21st minutes after Junior Lokosa created space for himself before sending a low shot to the far right of Goalkeeper Ojo.
Alhassan Ibrahim found his way to the box and crossed to Lokosa, but was too heavy to be latched in.
Ojo made another save to put Akwa United in close distance to catch up as he punched away a dangerous cross from Rabiu Ali.
Pillars get the third goal on the stroke of half time as Ojo misjudged Lokosa's cross and Ali poked to the an empty net.
The Pyramid city boys picked up from where they left it with six minutes into second half and could have get another goal but Akwa United substitute goalkeeper Emmanuel Iwu did well to back pedal and produce a one handed reflex save from Lokosa's lobbing effort.
Chance for Akwa arrived in the 53rd but Asuquo skied an easy chance following a near perfect pass from Gabriel Ikechukwu.
Ali also had a glorious chance to get his hat trick in the 56th minute but waywardly fired wide when he had Iwu at his mercy.
Pillar' keeper, David Obiazo inadvertently cleared the ball and deflected to the path of Ikechukwu but Djondang cleared the danger before Akwa's forward take aim.
All efforts for the Promise Keepers to get into the game before final whistle proved abortive as Pillars defended real well to win their second preseason tournaments in 17 days after winning the Gold Cup Tourney.
Kano Pillars' captain, Rabiu Ali deservedly won the tournament's Most Valuable Player, MVP prize while his teammate Obiazo cat home the best goalkeeper award.
Both sides will still meet on Wednesday at the same venue when the NPFL Invitational Tournament begins.
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