Ahmed Musa netted the winning goal as Kano Pillars recorded a 2-1 victory over Niger Tornadoes at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday.

Kano Pillars took the lead through Rashid Alhassan at the half-hour mark.

Niger Tornadoes fought back, with Mohammed Goyi equalising at the hour mark.

Musa found the target deep into stoppage time to win the game for Pillars.

Peter Awosanmi was on target as Sunshine Stars narrowly defeated El-Kanemi Warriors 1-0 at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.

In Benin City, Bendel Insurance also recorded a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars, with Isaac Annor scoring the decisive strike in the 83rd minute.

Manchester City’s crisis snowballed as they slipped to another devastating defeat at Aston Villa.

Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers goals meant Phil Foden’s late reply for the visitors was little consolation.

Defending champions City have dropped to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool having played two games more, while Villa have moved above them into fifth.

It is now nine defeats in 12 games in all competitions for City, who are winless in their last eight away matches, as their season continues to spiral downwards.

Guardiola made six changes from the Manchester derby defeat last week but it made little difference during another laboured performance.

Villa, who had won just three of their previous 11 top-flight games, earned a much-needed victory, one which keeps their top-four hopes firmly alive.

They were rarely troubled, although Emi Martinez saved well from Foden in the first half, and Villa continually found ways past City’s frail backline.

The tone was set inside the first minute as City needed Stefan Ortega, in for the injured Ederson, to twice bail them out.

He brilliantly turned Pau Torres’ header on to the bar, the goalkeeper clawing the ball out from almost over the line, having already saved from Duran following Josko Gvardiol’s mistake after just 15 seconds.

Worse was to come after 16 minutes when City were sliced open by Youri Tielemans’ brilliant through-ball. He found Rogers to advance and unselfishly square for Duran to beat Ortega.

City were unable to respond until it was too late and Rogers, who spent two years at Etihad Stadium without making a senior City appearance, sealed victory for Villa with a fine low finish after 65 minutes, making Foden’s injury-time strike meaningless.

BBC

Super Eagles star, Ademola Lookman had delivered a touching speech after winning the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.

According to him, he learned from his failure four years ago which made him a better player.

He said: “Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said after receiving the award.

“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings. Matter of fact, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight.

“Firstly. I want to thank the Almighty God for everything he has been doing in my life, and everything he has been blessing me with.

“I want to thank the president, I want to thank all my teammates- club and country. I want to thank them for all their support and love that they gave me.”

“This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation, and to be recognized as the best player in Africa. It’s something incredible and I’m extremely proud of.”