Heartland defeat Kano Pillars to win 2023 NNL
Naze Millionaires end season unbeaten in league
Heartland ended the 2022-23 season with silverware after securing the NNL crown with a 2-0 win over Kano Pillars in the Championship decider at Asaba.
Having both won their respective conference groups to book their place in the NPFL next season, Heartland and Kano Pillars locked horns for the final time to decide who would be NNL champions.
The match was delicately poised with both sides cancelling each other out from the beginning, and the first half of the encounter ended scoreless.
The Naze Millionaires seized the initiative and nine minutes into the second half, opened the scoring through forward Francis Erikan, who finished calmly after a marauding run to give his side the lead.
Kano Pillars sought to find a way back into the final but were dealt a sucker-punch in the 76th minute when Fabian Omaka finished off a pass from Chidiebere Ajoku to seal the win for Heartland.
The Naze Millionaires have now won the NNL23 crown. They will be joined in the NPFL next season by Kano Pillars, Sporting Lagos and Katsina United.
