Nigeria, April 26 -- The pressure of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title race intensified on Friday as Rivers United fell 2-0 to Kano Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, with Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa and veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali delivering the decisive blows.

While the defeat dealt a major blow to Rivers United's slim hopes of catching Remo Stars, it was head coach Finidi George's honest and revealing post-match interview that truly captured the emotions of the evening.

Speaking to the media after the match, Finidi George did not mince words about where the game slipped from their hands.

"I think in the first half we defended well," he began. "In the second half, I think Kano Pillars pushed a little bit ...