KANO Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali, Remo Stars wing-back Sadiq Ismael, Rivers United centre-back Stephen Manyo, and the current Nigeria Premier Football League top scorer Anas Yusuf are in the 18-man roster for the doubleheader 2024 CHAN qualifiers against Ghana.
After about three weeks of camping in Ikenne, stand-in head coach Daniel Ogunmodede picked the four players and 14 others for the assignment.
Other players in the sqaud include Enyimba goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena as well as Remo Stars’ Kayode Bankole.
The Super Eagles B arrived in Ghana on Friday night ahead of Sunday’s first leg encounter against the Black Galaxies.
Nasarawa United defender Victor Collins, Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City), Imo Obot (Enyimba FC), Junior Nduka (Remo Stars) and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International) complete the defence line.
In midfield, Ali will be joined by Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars), Saviour Isaac (Rangers International) and Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors).
NPFL top scorer Yusuf will be joined in attack by Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United), Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United) and Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes).
Some notable absentees in the 18-man swaud include Rangers midfielder Kazeem Ogunleye, Plateau United’s Temitope Vincent, Rivers United powerful leftback Taiwo Abdulrafiu and Abia Warriors forward Sunday Megwo.
During their training camp in Ikenne, the team triumphed in four friendly games, beating Remo Stars 2-1 in their last preparatory game on Wednesday.
The 18-man squad and their officials arrived Accra on Friday ahead of Sunday’s first leg tie while the return leg is slated for Saturday December 28 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The Super Eagles B are in a must win tie against Ghana, with the Galaxies being the reason Nigeria failed to qualify for the championship on two different occasions in the past (2009 and 2023).
The winner of the ties on aggregate will advance to the 8th African Nations Championship taking place in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, from February 1-28, 2025.
Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.