Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali has expressed his readiness to give his best for the Super Eagles B as they prepare to face Ghana in the 2024 Africa Nations Championship qualifiers.
Ali and 29 other home-based stars in the Nigeria Premier Football League will arrive at the team’s camp in Ikenne, Ogun State on Wednesday in preparation for the two-legged affair against Ghana on Sunday, December 22 in Accra, while the return leg is scheduled for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, December 28.
Ageless Rabiu Ali in Search For Third CHAN
The 44-year-old is making the CHAN Eagles squad for the third time in his 18-year NPFL career, having been part of the bronze-winning team in 2014 in South Africa and also leading the team to a second-place finish during the 2018 edition in Morocco.
At the age of 44, Rabiu Ali headlines the CHAN Eagles squad with his stunning performance in the 2024/25 NPFL season, where he has eight goals already including four free kicks. Despite his sizzling form, the veteran midfielder said he wasn’t so sure the coaches would give him a look.
“For this year I wasn’t so sure I would get a call-up because it all depends on the coaching staff if they want you or not, but I have been hopeful.
“I have been called to the team twice; the one in South Africa we gave our best and won the bronze, and the one in Morocco we came second and Morroco won the cup. I’m very optimistic that this year by the special grace of God, we will deliver the qualifying ticket and also deliver the trophy for Nigeria.”
Ali’s CHAN History
At the 2014 tournament, Ali, then 34-year-old scored three goals three goals as Nigeria settled for a third-place finish at the championship.
Four years later, he could only score one as Nigeria fell flat to hosts Morocco in the final.
“A lot of players want to play for the country at any level but don’t have the opportunity. I thank almighty Allah for that experience even though we lost the final, but it’s a moment to reckon with in my career,” Ali told our correspondent during an exclusive chat earlier this year.
“I wasn’t happy with the result, I felt really bad but that’s what God had planned, and the weather conditions were not favourable because there was rain and cold weather, which affected our performance. It was a final and we lost 4 0 without a consolation goal. It was really painful,” Ali says.
Since he started playing for the home-based Super Eagles in 2013, Rabiu Ali has made 18 appearances, scoring five goals.
The eighth edition of the continental championship – exclusively for footballers plying their trade with clubs in their country’s domestic leagues and possessing standard contracts – will run the length of February 2025 in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Ghana stopped Nigeria from reaching the Africa Nations Championship finals in 2009 and 2023. In the qualifiers for the inaugural edition hosted by Ivory Coast, 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 2-0 in Abuja, but prevailed after a penalty shootout at the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
