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CHAN 2025 Qualifiers: Finidi George backs Rivers United duo for Ghana clash

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CHAN 2025 Qualifiers: Finidi George backs Rivers United duo for Ghana clash

By Wale Mustapha

George Finidi, Technical Adviser of Rivers United, has expressed confidence that the club’s players, Stephen Manyo and Taiwo Abdulrafiu, will make the final squad for Nigeria’s 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying match against Ghana.

Both Manyo and Abdulrafiu, who currently play for Rivers United, have been included in the provisional squad for the upcoming encounter.

Finidi, who has previously managed the Super Eagles, believes in their potential to contribute to Nigeria’s success in the qualifiers.

“I spoke with both players and wished them well,” Finidi shared with Rivers United Media.

“They are among the 18 players selected, and I am hopeful they will make the final squad for the Ghana game. If not, we will see if we can have them back, but we will await confirmation from the federation.”

The highly anticipated first leg of the CHAN qualifying match will take place on Sunday, December 22, at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The return leg is set for Saturday, December 28, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Nigeria.

Finidi’s backing of Manyo and Abdulrafiu underscores the growing recognition of Rivers United’s talent in Nigerian football, as the team continues to play a pivotal role in the development of players for the national team.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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