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EuroMatch NPFL: “I Found it Difficult to Celebrate” — Shola Abdulraheem Reflects on Emotional Return Against Kwara United
Abdulraheem Shola could hardly have scripted a more emotional start to his Kano Pillars career.
The former Kwara United midfielder returned to familiar territory on Matchday One of the EuroMatch NPFL season and immediately made his mark, scoring for Kano Pillars against the club where he previously played.
But when the ball hit the net, celebration was not easy.
“I found it difficult to celebrate,” Shola admitted after the match, explaining the respect and affection he still has for Kwara United.
It was a moment that perfectly captured the emotional side of football. Shola had spent time at Kwara United and returned to Ilorin wearing the colours of Kano Pillars, with his professional responsibility now firmly with his new club.
For the midfielder, however, scoring against his former side was never going to be an ordinary goal.
“You could see that being a former player of United and now with Kano Pillars, it’s all about the business and profession,” he said.
That professionalism was evident from the opening whistle.
Shola put Kano Pillars ahead in the 11th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage and announcing himself in his first league appearance for the club.
Kano Pillars then extended their lead before Kwara United launched a dramatic fightback, eventually forcing a 2-2 draw in Ilorin.
For Shola, the result may have fallen short of what Kano Pillars wanted after leading by two goals, but he remained positive about collecting a point away from home at the beginning of a long campaign.
“It is just the beginning of the season. We are happy with the point,” he said.
The result also underlined the unpredictable nature of the EuroMatch NPFL, where an apparently comfortable advantage can disappear in the closing stages.
For Shola personally, though, the match represented something bigger than the final score.
It was the beginning of a new chapter.
He returned to a club he knows, faced players and supporters familiar to him, scored against his former employers and then had to balance personal emotion with his professional duty to Kano Pillars.
That is football.
The memories remain, the respect remains, but once the whistle goes, the badge on the shirt demands everything.
And Shola delivered.
His first EuroMatch NPFL appearance for Kano Pillars has already produced a goal, an emotional storyline and a reminder of the professionalism required to succeed at the highest level of Nigerian domestic football.
The past may belong to Kwara United, but Shola Abdulraheem’s next chapter is with Kano Pillars, and he has already announced himself.
Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala was on target as Al Hilal produced an impressive 4-0 away victory over NEOM, with fellow Nigerian international Christy Ucheibe also featuring in the convincing performance.
Sports247 reports that Oshoala continued her contribution to Al Hilal’s attacking campaign by finding the back of the net in the 65th minute, helping the visitors strengthen their advantage in a dominant display.
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The Nigerian forward’s goal came during an impressive second-half performance from Al Hilal, who added three goals after the interval to complete a comprehensive victory.
Moroccan forward Ibtissam Jraidi opened the scoring in the 11th minute, giving Al Hilal an early advantage before the teams went into the break.
Oshoala doubled the visitors’ lead in the 65th minute before Manar Al-Anzi made it 3-0 just four minutes later.
Jraidi then completed her brace in the 88th minute, sealing the emphatic 4-0 result for Al Hilal.
Christy Ucheibe, Oshoala’s Super Falcons teammate, also played a part in the victory as the Nigerian duo continued to make their contributions to the Saudi Arabian club.
The result represents another important outing for Al Hilal, with the team’s attacking quality evident in the performance against NEOM.
For Oshoala, the goal provides another opportunity to demonstrate her goalscoring ability and importance at club level. The six-time African Women’s Player of the Year remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable football exports, and her performances continue to attract attention.
The presence of both Oshoala and Ucheibe in Al Hilal’s squad also highlights the growing influence of Nigerian players in women’s football outside the country.
With the emphatic away victory secured, Al Hilal will look to build on the performance in their subsequent fixtures.
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