We began life in the Nigeria Premier Football League 2024/2025 season with a 3-0 defeat in the hands of Kano Pillars at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium, Katsina.

Our starting line up was made up of nine premier league debutants with only two; Tony Obia and Rivio Ayemwenre having played in the NPFL before.

LINE UP: Chinemerem Olughu; Harrison Austin, Waliu Ojetoye, Leonard Ngenge, Chibuike Prestige; Kelechi Onwe, Salau Yusuf, Tosin Oyedokun; Rivio Ayemwenre, Emmanuel Solomon & Tony Obia.


A good start to the game it was for us as we dominated possession and forced pillars into many errors with a good display which paid was obvious as early as the fourth minute. Emmanuel Solomon was found in the box by Waliu but his effort was saved brilliantly.

The rest of the first half went by evenly with chances at both ends. Rabiu Ali forced Chinemerem to good saves from freekicks while Tosin also found the side of the net as the game ran into half time at the end of the two minutes additional time.

The second half started with more intense from the home side, with most of the game played in Ikorodu City’s half and finding it hard to progress.

The breakthrough came fourteen minutes into the second half and Mustapha Umar, unmarked in the box, rose to meet a cross with a header that beat Chinemerem in goal.

Kano Pillars grew a lot more in the game and the legendary Rabiu Ali struck after so many trials ten minutes later. His freekick deep into our half at the side of the box, caught Chinemerem out at his near post which doubled the home side’s lead.

Yet again after so much dominance from Kano Pillars, Bright responded with changes to draw a response from the lads but just before they could settle, Rabiu Ali struck for his brace and the third for Kano Pillars. A low drive shot from outside the box slipped under Chinemerem to extend their lead.

A late resurgence from the young visitors saw Waliu hit the bar with an effort and a volley from Ganiyu Adio blocked as the game ended 3-0 in favour of Kano Pillars.


UP NEXT

No action for Ikorodu City in the coming weekend due to Rangers Int’l engagement in the CAF Champions League. Ikorodu City will next have to travel to Kwara to face Kwara United on matchday three of the NPFL 2024/2025 on Sunday, 22nd September, 2024.

SUBSTITUTIONS 

OUT: Rivio Ayemwenre IN: Ayomide Cole 49’

OUT: Tony Obia IN: Chilaka ThankGod 49’

OUT: Leonard Ngenge IN: Marvelous Freedom 71’

OUT: Emmanuel Solomon IN: Adio Ganiyu 71’

UNUSED SUBS

Faith James, Adebayo Adewale & Gbenga Opamoye.