BY KUNLE SOLAJA

The regulations governing the qualification of players for the African Nations Championship may have ruled out the eligibility of Ahmed Musa from being part of the Nigerian team that will face Ghana next month.

The African Nations Championship is for players who are citizens of the country and play in the domestic league.

Ordinarily, Ahmed Musa who had captained the Nigerian lead brand, Super Eagles, and now features in the domestic league with Kano Pillars should have been eligible.

He has signed for the club and is having his third stint after featuring for Kano Pillars between 2009/10 and 2021.

He signed for the club for the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season as a free agent after terminating his contract with Turkish club Sivasspor in February.

He is with Kano Pillars along with another former Super Eagles player, Sheu Abdullahi on short-term contracts.

That is where there is an issue. Article 38 in Chapter 16 of the Regulations of the African Nations Championship spells out the qualification of players.

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

Musa’s contract with Kano Pillars is short-term.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA

Even with a month to go, Nigeria is not leaving anything to chance as they prepare for their African Nations Championship qualification match with Ghana, which will take place in December.

But by the end of October, the camp had opened, and national coach Austin Eguavoen remarked that he was excited about the response of all invited players.

A week ago, 35 players were invited to camp at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Eguavoen, who also coaches the mainstream national team, has spoken about the immense quality in the group and the hopes of qualifying Nigeria ahead of Ghana.

The assembly of players is ready to take on Ghana in December.

Sports Village Square recalls that apart from the decades-old regional rivalry, Ghana had in the past been the major obstacle for Nigeria in the qualifying series for the African Nations Championship.

Ghana and Nigeria are paired together for the third time in the qualifying series for the African Nations Championship.

They met in the 2009 and the 2022 series. The aggregate results were in Ghana’s favour.

First, in the 2009 qualifiers, Nigeria squandered a 2-0 first-half lead in Accra and lost 3-2. But going into the return leg played in Calabar, they could not score a goal that could have seen them through on the away goal rule as they ended the match 0-0.

In the last edition, Nigeria for the 2023 edition, Nigeria lost 2-0 in Accra but levelled up in Abuja after a late 2-0 win. But in the eventual penalty shoot-out, the Nigerian team lost 5-4. Will they overcome Ghana this time?

Back at home Ahmed Musa is a conspicuous absentee as Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen named the squad that will face Ghana in the qualification for the 2025 African Nations Cup Championship (CHAN).

Ahmed Musa recently moved to the local league and has been on fire since rejoining Kano Pillars.

Eguavoen has called to camp Remo Stars’ wing-back Ismail Sadiq, Kano Pillars’ forward Zikifilu Rabiu and Enugu Rangers’ attacking midfielder Kazeem Ogunleye among a list of 35 players of Super Eagles B for the 2025 CHAN qualifying fixture against Ghana.

The first leg of the fixture, which is a reminder of the qualification series for the last edition of the competition, which Ghana edged on a penalty shootout, is billed for the weekend of 20^th – 22^nd December, with the return leg a week later.

The winner over two legs will earn a slot at the 8^th edition of the competition exclusively reserved for footballers plying their trade in their country’s domestic League. The finals will take place across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, 1^st – 28^th February 2025.

Akwa United’s Wisdom Ndom, Enugu Rangers’ Saviour Isaac, Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors’ Abba Maigari are also invited to the camp that will open in Abuja on Tuesday, 29^th October.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Ohisodumeya Osagie (Rivers United); Henry Ozomena (Enyimba FC); Mohammed Galadima (Nasarawa United)

Defenders: Wisdom Ndom (Akwa United); Stephen Mayo (Rivers United); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers); Ismail Sadiq (Remo Stars); Yusuf Isa (Bayelsa United); Abba Maigari (El-Kanemi Warriors); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Kabiru Mohammed (Kwara United); Junior Nduka (Remo Stars); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United); Abbas Usman (El-Kanemi Warriors);

Midfielders: Innocent Godwin (Abia Warriors); Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars); Musa Zayad (El-Kanemi Warriors); Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers); Eze Ekwutoziam (Enyimba FC); Aimufua Aisosa (Kwara United); Tochukwu Michael (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Assurance (Lobi Stars); Kazeem Ogunleye (Enugu Rangers); Seth Mayi (Sunshine Stars); Stanley Oganbor (Lobi Stars); Meyiwa Oritseweyimi (Bendel Insurance); Toyeeb Gidado (Ikorodu City)

Forwards: Samuel Ayorinde (Shooting Stars); Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Abdul Sanusi (El-Kanemi Warriors); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Abubakar Adamu (Plateau United); Rabiu Zikifilu (Kano Pillars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Michael Enaruma (Bendel Insurance)