Kano Pillars have reinstated Muhammad Babaganaru as their new acting technical adviser following the suspension of head coach Evans Ogenyi and his assistant, Ahmed Garba Yaro, due to a disappointing run of results in the ongoing 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The club confirmed Babaganaru’s return in a statement on Tuesday, announcing that he would assume duties immediately as the team works to rediscover form after a difficult start to the campaign.
“The management of Kano Pillars FC wishes to announce the appointment of Muhammad Babaganaru as the acting technical adviser of the club. He will resume with immediate effect. We wish Coach Babaganaru success in his new role as he leads the Sai Masu Gida in upcoming fixtures,” the statement read.
This appointment marks a homecoming for Babaganaru, who previously led Pillars to back-to-back NPFL titles in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, during which the club became one of Nigeria’s most dominant sides. His return is viewed as an effort to restore stability and confidence within the struggling squad.
Kano Pillars have endured a rough start, managing only two wins, two draws, and four losses from their opening eight matches, leaving them 18th on the table. Their latest defeat — a 2-1 loss to city rivals Barau FC behind closed doors at the Sani Abacha Stadium — reportedly sealed Ogenyi’s dismissal.
Before Babaganaru’s reinstatement, the club had placed assistant coach Gambo Muhammad in temporary charge, supported by goalkeeping coach Suleiman Shuaibu and youth coach Garzali Muhammad. The veteran coach’s return now signals a renewed push to revive the team’s fortunes.
According to Gossip News Now, it has been a turbulent period for the four-time NPFL champions, who were recently fined ₦9.5 million, docked three points, and ordered to relocate home games to Katsina following crowd disturbances during their match against Shooting Stars.
With just eight points from eight matches, Babaganaru’s immediate challenge will be to restore belief and urgency within the dressing room. Pillars are set to host Niger Tornadoes in Katsina before heading to Ikenne to face Remo Stars in their next league fixtures.
