Kano Pillars will host high-flying Doma United at the Sani Abacha Stadium on September 20 for Matchday 4 of the 2026/27 NPFL season, and the visitors are arriving in Kano full of confidence after a perfect start to the campaign.
Doma United head coach Deji Ayeni has made it clear that his side see the trip to Kano as another opportunity to prove they belong among the league's top contenders. The Savannah Tigers have won all three of their opening matches without conceding a single goal, a run that includes a notable victory over Enyimba, and Ayeni says that form is no accident.
"It is too early to judge any team at the moment, but the most important thing is that our set objective is to make a very good impression in the league. And if we are to win the league title, so be it. But we want to compete well and be at the top and want to make an impression on Nigerian football and stakeholders," Ayeni told Completespots.com.
The Doma coach, who previously managed Enyimba before taking charge at Doma United, spoke about the significance of beating his old club. "It was a game that everybody had been waiting for, and I am happy that we prepared well, and the players responded very well. Don't forget that Enyimba is a team I coached last before joining Doma United. So Enyimba is my former team, and I know the club very well," he said. He added that he had challenged his players to use the fixture as a statement. "I made the boys know that they can make a name through Enyimba because they are a big club in Africa and Nigeria as well. I told the players that if they are able to withstand the tenacity and pressure of Enyimba, then it becomes big news. I am delighted that the players came to the party and got the three points against Enyimba."
Turning his attention to the meeting with Kano Pillars, Ayeni did not hide his belief that his team can leave Kano with something to show for it. "Yes, Kano Pillars is a household name and has a big pedigree in Nigerian football, but one thing we must understand is that it's a game of 90 minutes and 11 players. I am confident Doma United will get a positive result against Kano Pillars. We just want to remain humble and focus," he said.
For Kano Pillars, the fixture arrives at a moment when the Sai Masu Gida will want to build on an unbeaten start to the new season, having drawn 2-2 away at Kwara United on Matchday 1 before edging Niger Tornadoes 3-2 at home on Matchday 2, with Fabian Nworie Maduabuchi scoring twice in that win. Pillars fans will remember that last season's form swung between good and bad, including a heavy 4-0 home win over Bendel Insurance and a painful 4-1 defeat away to Bayelsa United, so consistency remains the target this time around. Facing a Doma United side unbeaten and yet to concede a goal will be a genuine examination of where this Kano Pillars team currently stands, and a home win would send a strong message that the Sai Masu Gida mean business this season.