Kano Pillars aim to end nine-year wait for away point at Shooting Stars

Kano Pillars will attempt to secure their first point away to Shooting Stars since 2017 when the sides meet at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Wednesday.

The rescheduled NPFL Matchday 3 fixture gives Pillars an opportunity to halt a difficult run in Ibadan, where they have lost on each of their last four visits to the Oluyole Warriors.

Their most recent result at the venue without defeat came on 7 June 2017, when the teams played out a goalless draw. Since then, Shooting Stars have scored six goals against Kano Pillars, who have managed only one in those four matches.

The visitors arrive in better form this season, having gone six games unbeaten. That sequence includes two wins and four draws, leaving them seventh in the table with 10 points.

Shooting Stars, meanwhile, have also made a solid start in their home matches. They have played three times at the Lekan Salami Stadium, recording two victories and one draw. Despite that record, they sit 17th in the standings on seven points.

For Kano Pillars, avoiding defeat would carry importance beyond ending their long wait for a positive result in Ibadan. A point would move them into the top five and offer evidence that they can collect results away from the Sani Abacha Stadium.

That was an area of concern for Sai Masu Gida last season, when they suffered nine away defeats. Their unbeaten run in the current campaign has therefore provided a contrast to their previous struggles on the road.

Shooting Stars will be seeking to protect their unbeaten home record while improving their position in the table. Kano Pillars, on the other hand, will look to maintain their momentum and claim a result that would strengthen their early-season challenge.

The meeting represents the latest chance for Pillars to change a nine-year pattern against 3SC. A draw would be their first away point in the fixture since 2017, while a victory would end an even longer run without success on those visits.