Football
Dami Ugbane, Special to ESPN 6y

Kano Pillars fail to overtake NPFL pacesetters

Kano Pillars failed to secure a first away win of the season in Akure to topple the leaders, and remain in third at the conclusion of matchday eight in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

Here are the complete results from this weekend's fixtures.

Sunshine Stars 0 - 0 Kano Pillars

Kano Pillars secured a third away draw of the season at Sunshine Stars in Akure, missing out on the chance to take top spot.

The best chance of the game fell to Pillars' Alhassan Ibrahim on the half-hour mark, but his long-range strike hit the woodwork. Despite the home advantage, Sunshine Stars were blunt in attack, failing to force a save from the visiting goalkeeper.

The result, a second successive away goalless draw for Pillars, leaves them in third, level on points with Plateau United, while Sunshine dropped two spots to seventh.

Enugu Rangers 1 - 0 El-Kanemi Warriors

Kelvin Itoya's 82nd-minute winner for Enugu Rangers ensured coach Imama Amapakabo tasted defeat on his first return to his old stomping ground in Enugu, while simultaneously condemning El-Kanemi Warriors to the bottom of the table.

Solomon Okapko missed the first big opening of the game for Rangers, placing his effort wide from close range with goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar displaced.

Nura Mohammed, fresh from his outing with Nigeria at the African Nations Championship, carried the biggest offensive threat for El-Kanemi Warriors, but the teenage sensation's endeavour yielded nothing as his team have failed to score in five successive games.

FC Ifeanyi Ubah 2 - 0 Heartland

FC Ifeanyi Ubah were the biggest movers on the log, gaining eight spots thanks to a comfortable home win against Heartland in the Oriental Derby.

Nnamdi Egbujor hit the woodwork in the 22nd minute, a big let down for the away team as they sought to take the lead.

Heartland were left to curse their luck three minutes later as Ekene Awazie opened the scoring for the home team.

Seka Pascal doubled the lead and sealed maximum points for FC Ifeanyi Ubah with a 56th-minute goal. The result ended a four-game winless streak for FC Ifeanyi Ubah, who moved out of the drop zone into ninth, while Heartland suffered a second defeat of the season.

Kwara United 2 - 1 Katsina United

Kwara United were handed a major lifeline as they moved off the bottom of the table thanks to a home win against Katsina United.

Two second-half strikes from Godwin Emeka and Stephen Alfred -- his third goal of the season -- secured a third win of the campaign, and despite a nervy finish following Martin Usule's 87th-minute consolation goal, they held on for the win to finish the day in 18th position.

Yobe Desert Stars 1 - 0 Rivers United

Philip Asuquo's late winner from the spot preserved Yobe Desert Stars' 100 percent home record this season against Rivers United.

The drab encounter was headed for a draw until Philip Auta won a penalty for the home team. Asuquo netted the match-winner 10 minutes from time, earning a victory which lifts his team into sixth-place, the highest by the promoted clubs.

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