NPFL legend Rabiu Ali has been deservedly listed among 30 players to open training camp in Ikenne Wednesday ahead of 2025 CHAN final playoff against arch-rivals Ghana.
Ghana will host the first leg on Sunday, December 22, while the return leg will be played in Uyo on December 28 with the overall winners advancing to the CHAN to be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in February.
Kano Pillars attacking midfielder Rabiu Ali, 44, has scored eight goals thus far this season in the NPFL.
He featured for the CHAN Eagles, when they finished third at the 2014 championship in South Africa.
NPFL leading scorer with 10 goals Anas Yusuf and Victor Collins, who was called up by the Super Eagles for last month’s 2025 AFCON qualifiers, both of Nasarawa United as well as Remo Stars goalkeeper Kayode Bankole made the cut.
Ghana stopped Nigeria from reaching the Africa Nations Championship finals in 2009 and 2023.
In the qualifiers for the inaugural edition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria took a 2-0 first-half lead in the opening leg in Accra, only to concede three goals in the second half. The return leg in Calabar ended 0-0.
In the qualifiers for the last edition hosted by Algeria, Ghana won 2-0 at home and lost 0-2 in Abuja, but prevailed after a penalty shootout at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena (Enyimba FC); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United)
Defenders: Ismail Sadiq (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojewole (Ikorodu City); Imo Obot (Enyimba FC); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Junior Nduka (Remo Stars); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International); Steven Mayo (Rivers United)
Midfielders: Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Saviour Isaac (Rangers International); Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors); Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes); Kazeem Ogunleye (Rangers International)
Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United); Osy Martins (Lobi Stars); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Samuel Ogunleye (3SC); Abiam Nelson (Kano Pillars); Meyiwa Oritseweyimi (Bendel Insurance); Ngbemena Ikechukwu (Heartland FC); Sunday Megwo (Abia Warriors); Umar Al-Amin Ibrahim (El-Kanemi Warriors); Adams Aminu Sani (Kano Pillars)
