Ahmed Musa Apologises as Video Shows Injured Shooting Stars Players After Kano Pillars Fans’ Attack

Moments after a thrilling late equalizer finished the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match 1-1, Kano Pillars supporters stormed the field and attacked Shooting Stars players and referees at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday, October 12.

Adams Mustapha startled the audience by equalizing for the visitors in the 94th minute after Kano Pillars had taken the lead thanks to an early goal from Mustapha Jibrin. After that goal, irate home fans stormed the field and crashed over security barriers, causing mayhem.

Online recordings and footage from Propel Sports’ live broadcast showed fans pursuing referee Mohammed Tuta and his helpers Alfa Sadiq, Shehu Isah, and Bem Japhet. As the violence swiftly extended around the field, the officials fled for their lives.
Clearly outnumbered, security personnel attempted to maintain order but eventually had to use tear gas to scatter the crowd. Some spectators tossed the gas canisters back at authorities and players, making the situation worse rather than better.

According to reports, the attack injured a number of Shooting Stars players, including Adams Agba’a and Ismail Ayodele. Later footage showed several of them receiving medical attention while nursing bruises.
3SC Fans TV denounced the event on social media and demanded accountability as well as severe disciplinary measures.

The organization wrote, “We shouldn’t be encouraging this kind of behavior.” In the confusion that ensued after the final whistle, fans also attacked Adams Agba’a and Ismail Ayodele. There is no room for violence in this lovely game. Fans need and can perform better.

“Despite a passionate performance that earned a point in Kano, the aftermath was marred by unacceptable scenes, as our players were attacked by Kano Pillars fans for reasons best known to them,” the fan club said in another statement. Football is not a place for this type of behavior. We fervently hope that justice is done, even though we are not the league body. This is detrimental to the NPFL’s reputation. Let’s keep the game safe.

The NPFL board “noted with concern the disturbing reports and viral video clips” from the fixture, according to a statement signed by Davidson Owumi, its chief operating officer. The league organization stated that it was reviewing the situation and that disciplinary action would be taken after denouncing “in the strongest terms any act of violence, intimidation, or misconduct directed at players, match officials, or fans.”

One of the nation’s most prosperous clubs, Kano Pillars, has a history of disciplinary problems related to fan conduct. The team has received fines totaling over ₦36 million since 2019 for offenses involving crowds, such as attacking officials and invading the pitch.

Ahmed Musa, the club’s general manager and former captain of the Super Eagles, apologized late Sunday night amid mounting indignation, calling the incident “heartbreaking, shameful, and completely unacceptable.”

Ahmed Musa, the general manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, opened his statement by saying, “I sincerely apologize for the terrible, agonizing, and shameful incident that happened during our game against Shooting Stars Sports Club on Sunday evening.”

“What happened to Shooting Stars is terrible, dishonorable, and totally intolerable. It is not a true reflection of Kano Pillars’ identity, principles, or proud past. Violence and lack of discipline must never overwhelm the ideals that our club has always stood for: community, passion, and respect. As a long-standing team with devoted fans, we are supposed to lead by example both on and off the field in terms of justice and integrity. Unfortunately, we didn’t live up to that standard today.

He apologized to the NPFL board, all football fans who witnessed the chaos, and the players, coaches, and officials of the Shooting Stars.

“I am sincerely sorry, and I understand how painful it must have been to witness something so detrimental to our game,” Musa remarked. “In football, violence has no place. It violates everything this lovely sport stands for and is intolerable and unjustifiable. Football is supposed to inspire, bring people together, and make them happy. We must face it head-on when it degenerates into scenes of mayhem and damage rather than pretending it doesn’t exist.

He promised that in order to find and punish the guilty parties, the club would work closely with the authorities.

“We are aware that saying sorry is insufficient on its own. Action must come after words. Musa promised, “We would take a significant internal step to ensure that something like this never happens again.”

The former Super Eagles captain asked the supporters to take this as a lesson in his message.

“I want to address our devoted followers directly. You are the lifeblood of Kano Pillars, a prestigious club with a long history. However, genuine support is demonstrated with discipline, enthusiasm, and respect rather than violence. “We must be at a turning point,” he remarked.

Musa pledged to assist in restoring the club’s reputation and accepted full responsibility for the situation.

“I would like to express my sincere and unconditional apologies to everyone impacted on behalf of Kano Pillars Football Club once more. We apologize to the Nigerian football fans, the Shooting Stars, the referees, the NPFL, and everyone who believes in the spirit of the game. I apologize. We accept full responsibility and will make every effort to rebuild respect, trust, and the authentic essence of football in Kano and throughout Nigeria.