Kano Pillars coach Ibrahim Musa has lamented the absence of Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa who was away on international duty with Nigeria as the Sai Masu Gida lost at Rivers United.

The former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow winger has played a key role in Pillars since rejoining his former side on a flexible short-term contract, providing a couple of assists in the four games he has played so far.

However, in his absence while representing Nigeria against Cameroon in international friendly matches in Austria, Pillars saw their 10-match unbeaten run snapped by Rivers United in Port Harcourt, going down 2-0 in a Match Day 26 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter on Wednesday.

Reacting to the defeat, the Pillars gaffer also added that Musa’s return to the NPFL is not just a blessing for the 4-time league champions, but to the entire Nigerian football ecosystem.

“It’s a great pleasure to Nigeria and a great show for the Nigeria Football federation (to have Ahmed Musa in the NPFL),” he said. “For somebody like Ahmed Musa, who played for so many clubs in Europe to come back and join his former team, it’s a great pleasure to Nigerian football, not only for Pillars.

“And he played four matches, which we didn’t lose any. We played five and won before he came. We played nine matches without defeat.

“So, Ahmed Musa has a lot to do in Pillars. We miss him, we miss him. But definitely, by the grace of God, you’ll see him against Akwa United (in our next match).”

Despite the defeat to Rivers United, Pillars maintain top spot, with 48 points from 26 matches, but will be overtaken by Akwa United if the Promise Keepers defeat Heartland in a re-arranged match on Thursday.