Kano Pillars have secured their place in the Nigeria Premier Football League for another season, and forward Ahmed Musa has taken time to acknowledge what it took to get there.
The Sai Masu Gida ended their 38-game campaign in 15th position, finishing with 48 points. Their final match on Sunday saw them lose 1-0 to Plateau United at the New Jos Stadium, but results elsewhere meant the outcome was enough to keep them up.
For Musa, the survival was a testament to the character of everyone involved with the club. "Despite our slow and unfamiliar start to the campaign, our darling club, Kano Pillars FC, showed resilience, character and determination to retain its NPFL status for another season," he said in an appreciation message.
The season was far from smooth. Pillarswent into the final weeks with their fate still uncertain, and the quality of the run-in reflected that tension — losses away to Ikorodu City and Kun Khalifat, sandwiched around a hard-fought home win over Rivers United, kept nerves on edge right to the last fixture.
Musa also directed his gratitude beyond the dressing room. "This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support, prayers and encouragement from the good people of Kano and football lovers across the country," he added.
For a club that has won the NPFL title four times, finishing 15th will not satisfy anyone connected to Kano Pillars. But survival means the foundation is still there, and attention can now turn to building a much stronger challenge next season.