CAF Rule Knocks out Ahmed Musa as Eguavoen Invites 30 Players for Ghana

CHAN 2025 QUALIFIERS

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Ahmed Musa who was initially speculated to spearhead Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) has been left out of the list of 30 players invited by Coach Augustine Eguavoen for the final battle with Ghana.

The Super Eagles Captain who is on his third stint in the Nigerian domestic topflight league (2009/10, 2021, and now 2024/25) was excluded because his short term contract with Kano Pillars  runs counter to CAF rule of the competition.

Article 38.2 of the Regulations of the African Nations Championship spells out that: “Only players with permanent contract registered in a local club affiliated to their national association are eligible to participate in the African Nations Championship.”

The free scoring former Leicester City winger returned to Nigeria after terminating his contract with Turkish club Sivasspor last February and has lifted the Sai Masu Gida  with the quality of his game.

With the Super Eagles B team facing their perennial nemesis Ghana who have twice in 2009 and 2023 stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the CHAN final, Musa was expected to bring his experience to bear on the team.

However, Musa’s Kano Pillars teammate, Rabiu Ali, who has scored eight goals this season, is among the players listed by Eguavoen in his 30-man squad to battle Ghana for the qualification ticket to the 8th CHAN finals scheduled to be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania next year.

Apart from the veteran Ali, Eguavoen also called up exciting Abia Warriors’ forward, Sunday Megwo, Remo Stars’ wing-back, Ismail Sadiq, Enugu Rangers’ midfield ace, Kazeem Ogunleye and Nasarawa United forward, Anas Yusuf.

Remo Stars’ goalkeeper Kayode Bankole and his Enyimba counterpart, Henry Ozoemena are listed alongside Nurudeen Badmus of Kwara United to man the goal area as the Super Eagles B Team are billed to take on Ghana’s Black Stars B, at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, 22nd December. The second leg will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 28th December.

Victor Collins, the Nasarawa United defender called up for last month’s 2025 AFCON qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda, Plateau United’s Adamu Abubakar and Rivers United defender Steven Mayo, are also called up.

According to the statement released by the NFF yesterday, all the invited players have been instructed to arrive at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State on Wednesday, 4th December 2024, where the team will train ahead of the first leg of the qualification fixture against Ghana’s Black Stars B.

ALL THE 30 INVITED PLAYERS

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)