The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) once again made headlines for the wrong reasons on Sunday, as chaos and violence erupted at the Sani Abacha Stadium following Kano Pillars’ dramatic 1–1 draw with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
Despite a thrilling contest on the pitch, the day ended in disgrace after home fans invaded the field. They attacked match officials and opposition players moments after the final whistle.
The disturbing scenes have since sparked outrage across Nigeria’s football community, drawing sharp condemnation from fans and pundits alike.
Kano Pillars had started brightly, with Mustapha Jibrin putting the home side ahead in the ninth minute. The goal sent the crowd into jubilation, and for most of the game, the atmosphere remained electric. However, Shooting Stars refused to go down quietly as they pushed relentlessly in search of an equaliser.
Their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time when Adams Mustapha silenced the Kano crowd with a late goal that made it 1–1. But while the visitors celebrated their hard-fought comeback, tempers flared in the stands. Within seconds, sections of the home fans broke through security barriers and stormed onto the pitch in fury.
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Teargas and tension: Security struggles to contain violence
As the situation spiralled, viral videos captured terrifying scenes of match officials and players being chased and assaulted. Reports confirmed that Shooting Stars players Ismail Ayodele and Adams Agba’a suffered injuries during the attack. Eyewitnesses said stones, bottles, and other objects were hurled at referees and away team members.
Security operatives, overwhelmed at first, eventually resorted to firing teargas canisters to disperse the angry mob and escort the players and officials to safety.
A viral post from @3SCFansTV on X condemned the violence, stating, “Unacceptable scenes in Kano. This isn’t the kind of behavior we should be spreading… Violence has no place in this beautiful game.”
The NPFL, which has been working hard to rebuild its reputation, now faces renewed scrutiny over fan safety and crowd control.
Tags: Kano Pillars, Shooting Stars Sports Club, 3SC, NPFL, Nigeria Premier Football League, violence, #NPFL26, Mustapha Jibrin, Adams Mustapha, #KANSHO, Ismail Ayodele, Sani Abacha Stadium.
