Kano Pillars will look to shrug off their patchy form in the Nigerian Professional Football League when they host Akwa United at Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday, 15 April 2018, kick-off at 17h00 CAT.
Kano has won just one of their last five league matches to drop off the pace set by league leaders Lobi Stars, leaving ‘Masu Gida’ in need of a haul of three points to ensure they remain well in contention for the title.
Pillars played to a 1-1 draw away to Wikki Tourists last weekend and will be hoping that a return to their home ground sparks the kind of form they showed when thrashing Ifeanyi Uba in their first game of the month.
As for Akwa, they have endured a tough travel schedule of late, which included a trip to Sudan last weekend to play Al Hilal in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup playoff round tie.
They will also have had far less rest and preparation time compared to their hosts, as the ‘Promise Keepers’ played away to Rivers United on Thursday in a catch-up match in the NPFL.
In head-to-head stats, Kano and Akwa have met in 16 league matches since 2007. Masu Gida have claimed eight wins compared to six for the Promise Keepers, while two games have been drawn.
The teams’ most recent meeting was a NPFL clash in September 2017 which was won 3-0 at home by Akwa. The Uyo-based side have won their last three successive meetings with Kano, going back to July 2016.
Recent league form, latest results first
| Kano | D | W | L | D | L |
| Akwa | L | D | W | W | L |
Head-to-head, league only, since 2007
Matches played 16
Kano wins 8
Akwa wins 6
Draws 2
Kano goals 13
Akwa goals 13