Super Eagles interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has named veteran Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali in the 30-man roster for this month’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers double-header against Ghana, Afrosport reports.
The CHAN Eagles will take on Ghana’s Black Galaxies at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22 December, before heading home to host the second leg on Saturday, 28 December, at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
Eguavoen, who will be assisted by Remo Stars coach Daniel Ogunmodede and Enugu Rangers boss Fidelis Ilechukwuw, failed to hand an invite to Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, who has been in top form for Pillars.
Meanwhile, Ali, who has scored eight goals in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this season, is joined on the list by the Remo Stars trio of Ismail Sadiq, Sikiru Alimi, and Kayode Bankole, as well as Victor Collins of Nasarawa United, who was an unused substitute in Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Benin Republic and Rwanda last month.
Other invited players include Rangers’ Kazeem Ogunleye, midfielder Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars), enterprising Ikorodu City fullback Waliu Ojetoye, Rivers United defender Steven Mayo, Abia Warriors forward Sunday Megwo, and Kwara United midfielder Emmanuel Ogbole.
All the invited players are expected to arrive at the Remo Stars sports institute in Ikenne, Ogun State, on Wednesday, 4 December, where the team will train ahead of the first leg.
The winner of the two-legged clash between Nigeria’s CHAN Eagles and Ghana’s Black Galaxies will qualify for the CHAN 2025 tournament, billed to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in February 2025.
