Five Kano Pillars players have been shot by gunmen in an attack on the club's entourage as they travelled to Owerri for the start of the new Nigerian Premier League season.

"Five players were injured from gunshots - Gambo, Ogbonaya, Eneji Otekpa, Murtala Adamu, and Moses Ekpai," the club wrote on Twitter.

"The gunmen also snatched handsets and other valuables from the players".

Saturday's match against Heartland has been postponed indefinitely.

Kano were travelling in a bus carrying 25 people, including 18 players, when the incident occurred at about 13:15 local time.

The five injured players are receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja.

Kano were preparing to begin the defence of their Nigerian title, having started their season with a victory over Al Malakia in their African Champions League preliminary round last weekend.

It is not yet clear whether Kano's Champions fixture against Moghreb Athletic Tetouane on 13 March will go ahead as scheduled.
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