History was made in the NPFL gameweek 11 fixture between Gombe United and Kano Pillars on Sunday, 3 December 2023.
In the clash that took place at the Pantami Stadium in Gombe, 18-year-old Kano Pillars winger Yusuf Abdullahi scored five goals as the Sai Masu Gida pummeled Gombe United 5-2.
And for the second time in NPFL history, a player scored five goals in a single game. Emem Eduok who played for Dolphins of Port Harcourt is the record holder after netting six goals against now defunct Nembe City in 2014.
Can Yusuf Abdullahi equals Emem Eduok 6 goals in a match against defunct Nembe City?
The Kano Pillars player has just scored 5 goals against Gombe United.
I wish he score more goals & set new record in the NPFL. pic.twitter.com/mbVseYBKyi
— MR OLAWALE QUADRY 🇳🇬 (@QualityQuadry) December 3, 2023
Such was Kano Pillars' dominant attacking display over Mohammed Babaganaru's Gombe United side that the encounter recorded the second-most scoring match in the NPFL this season.
The goal-scoring exploits of Abdullahi also saw the player climb within the top five top goalscorers in the NPFL this season.
NPFL post-match reaction of Kano Pillars Technical Adviser
The Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars, Abdullahi Maikaba in a post-match presser described the result of the game as ‘exciting and very nice'.
Maikaba could not hide his satisfaction, expressing utmost happiness as one of his young talents found the net five times after several attempts at scoring in previous matches.
MUST WATCH❗️
The 5 star show from Abdullahi Yusuf. 4 of the 5 goals scored by the winger against Gombe United.
His third goal wasn’t caught on camera. #NPFL24 pic.twitter.com/NnAWwRC9Pf
— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) December 3, 2023
The Kano Pillars winger has not previously scored for the club in the league this campaign, but was able to get five goals in one match to script history in the NPFL as the only second player to have netted at least five goals in one game.
“My happiness is that one of the brilliant talents coming up in Nigeria has scored all the five goals. It is a wonderful day for Kano pillars, me and my team,” said Maikaba.
Maikaba went on to say that Abdullahi had made several attempts to score his first goal for Sai Masu Gida, urging him to get his first and then others will come.
“I have been telling him that the first goal is the key. If he can get his first goal, it will motivate him to score more. I am happy that his first goal geared him up to get four more in just one match,” Maikaba added.
He said with the kind of talent and skills Abdullahi possesses, he could represent Nigeria at the junior levels and make the country proud just the way he had impressed for Kano Pillars.
Reaction of NPFL history maker Yusuf Abdullahi
Speaking after the game, the Kano Pillars goal poacher described his five goals against Gombe United as a milestone in his football career and a moment he would cherish for a long time to come.
He reiterated that it was his first time scoring in the NPFL in his debut season and was happy and thankful to God he got five at once.
“This is the first time I am playing in the NPFL and my joy is immeasurable and I owe all to God because victory is from God.”
He went on to say he would gladly represent the country at any junior level since he is 18 years if he gets a call-up to any of the national junior teams.
Gombe United fans gave him a standing ovation at full-time while some rushed to take pictures with the young history maker.
Following the win at Gombe, Kano Pillars are now 13th on the NPFL table with 13 points, after picking up four wins, one draw and five losses in ten league fixtures.
This article was most recently revised and updated 10 months ago
