Tension and chaos rocked the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano on Sunday after Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan forced a 1–1 draw against Kano Pillars in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter that ended in violence.
Moments after the final whistle, angry home fans invaded the pitch, accusing the referee of bias over the late equalizer scored by the visiting team. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as some fans breached security barricades and stormed the players’ tunnel, attacking Shooting Stars players and officials inside their dressing room.
Videos circulating on social media showed several traumatised 3SC players nursing injuries, with visible bruises and blood stains, while teammates tried to calm the situation. The footage, which has since gone viral, sparked outrage across the football community, prompting widespread condemnation of the violent attack.
Eyewitnesses at the stadium said security personnel fired tear gas to disperse the rampaging crowd after match officials and players fled for safety. “Once Shooting Stars equalized, the fans lost control and charged toward the referee and away team,” one journalist on the scene reported.
The club’s medical team reportedly treated multiple injured players within the changing area. Although no fatalities were recorded, several players sustained varying degrees of injuries.
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In a swift reaction, Kano Pillars’ General Manager and Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, issued a public statement describing the incident as “unacceptable and embarrassing.” He vowed that the club would cooperate fully with the Nigeria Premier Football League and law enforcement agencies to identify and punish those responsible.
“This is not who we are as a football club. I completely condemn the actions of those who attacked Shooting Stars and the match officials. Football should unite us, not divide us,” Musa said.
The NPFL management and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are expected to launch a formal investigation into the matter. Stakeholders have also called for stricter sanctions against clubs whose fans disrupt matches or endanger players and officials.
The 1–1 draw had initially been celebrated as a hard-fought result for Shooting Stars, who displayed resilience to snatch a late equalizer. However, the post-match violence overshadowed the game and reignited concerns about crowd control and security lapses at Nigerian football venues.
As of press time, Shooting Stars officials confirmed that all players were safe but some remained under medical observation.
