2025 CHAN Qualifiers: Rabiu Ali, Sikiru Alimi, 16 others make Nigeria’s final roster for Black Galaxies

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

18 players made the final roster for Nigeria men’s national Team B for their two-legged 2025 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) Qualifiers against Ghana with the first leg on Sunday.

Ageless Kano Pillars star Rabiu Ali and Remo Stars marksman Sikiru Alimi headline the final squad.

Stand-in coach of the team; Daniel Ogunmodede, has picked wing-back Sadiq Ishmael, center-back Stephen Manyo, and midfielders Musa Zayyad and Jide Fatokun as Nigeria starts their quest to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2018.

Sunday’s first leg fixture is scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off set for 4pm Ghana time (5pm in Nigeria), and some kilometers away, both countries’ U17 girls will be battling for the inaugural WAFU B U17 Cup at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

Over the past 10 months, Nigeria has dominated Ghana at the international level, starting with the Super Eagles’ 2-1 defeat of the Black Stars in a friendly match in Marrakech, Morocco – a first win at senior level for Nigeria against the West African rivals in 18 years.

In the summer, Nigeria’s U17 boys edged the Black Satellites 3-2 in the third-place match of the WAFU B U17 Championship staged by Ghana, and in October, the Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites 3-1 to successfully retain their WAFU B U20 Championship title in Lome, Togo.

The second leg will be held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, on Saturday, 28th December, with the winner on aggregate to pick a ticket to the 8th African Nations Championship taking place in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, 1st – 28th February 2025.

With three appearances so far, the Super Eagles team B won bronze medal in their maiden appearance in 2014.

In 2016, it was a group stage ouster for Sunday Oliseh’s side before reaching the final of the 2018 edition.

18 SUPER EAGLES B FOR WAR AGAINST GHANA’S BLACK GALAXIES

Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena (Enyimba FC); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)

Defenders: Ismail Sadiq (Remo Stars); Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City); Imo Obot (Enyimba FC); Junior Nduka (Remo Stars); Victor Collins (Nasarawa United); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Rangers International); Steven Manyo (Rivers United)

Midfielders: Jide Fatokun (Remo Stars); Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars); Saviour Isaac (Rangers International); Musa Zayyad (El-Kanemi Warriors)

Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United) Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Emmanuel Ogbole (Kwara United); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)