Stand-in Super Eagles B head coach Daniel Ogunmodede has named a final squad of 18 players, including veteran Rabiu Ali, defender Sadiq Ismail and striker Sikiru Alimi, for Sunday’s 8th African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying fixture against Ghana’s Black Galaxies in Accra.
The Remo Stars head coach also selected goalkeeper Henry Ozoemena, defender Victor Collins and forward Abubakar Adamu for the two-leg tie against Ghana who stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the championship in 2009 and 2023.
The Super Eagles B, with Ogunmodede and coaches Fidelis Ilechukwu and Olatunji Baruwa in charge, had staggered training sessions over three weeks from the month of October, before a final training camp began at the Remo Stars Sports Institute, Ikenne-Remo three weeks ago.
Sunday’s first leg fixture is scheduled for the Accra Sports Stadium, with kick-off set for 4pm Ghanaian time (5pm in Nigeria).
Over the past 10 months, Nigeria have dominated Ghana at international level, starting with the Super Eagles’ 2-1 victory over 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 Golden Eaglets edged the Black Satellites 3-2 in the third-place match of the WAFU B U-17 Championship staged by Ghana, and in October, the Flying Eagles defeated the Black Satellites 3-1 to successfully retain their WAFU B U-20 Championship title in Lome, Togo.
Togolese referee Aklesso Gnama will be in charge of Sunday’s encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium, with compatriots Jonathan Ahonto Koffi, Wassiou Tchamolla Ourotou and Kossi Fabrice Senyo in the roles of assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Liberian Ivan Gartor Brown will serve as commissioner while Hugues Alain Adjovi from Benin Republic will be the referee assessor.
The second leg will be held at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Saturday December 28, with the winners on aggregate to secure a ticket to the next CHAN taking place in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda in February 2025.
SUPER EAGLES B SQUAD
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)
