The home-based Super Eagles will battle perennial rivals Ghana for a place at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The draw ceremony for the biennial competition took place at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.
The two-legged affair will hold in December, 2024.
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Ghana will host the first leg between December 20-22, while the reverse tie is slated for Nigeria between December 27-29.
The winner of the second round clash will secure a spot at CHAN 2024 to be held in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Ghana eliminated Nigeria to secure qualification to the last edition of the CHAN tournament hosted by Algeria.
By Adeboye Amosu
11 Comments
This is no doubt a tall order. It’s a tough one for the home-based Super Eagles. Happily,our local football league has improved tremendously this new season. Teams are now winning away games. Officiating has also improved.
Another good thing is that coaches Fidelis Ilechukwu of Enugu Rangers and Daniel Ogunmodede of Remo stars ,who are part of the present Super Eagles set up ,know the players who deserve to be called up to the CHAN Eagles.Aliyu Zubairu of El Kanemi Warriors,who is currently in charge of the National U20 team,may also come in handy with some tips and recommendations.
Some top performers in the NPFL include Adewale Adeyinka (Kwara United), Kingdom Osayi(Doma United),Kenneth Igbokwe(Enugu Rangers),Imo Obot(Enyimba),Anas Yusuf, current top scorer vwith5 goals. It is sad that last season’s top scorer, Chijioke Mbaoma has joined a team in Libya and is therefore not eligible to feature for us. Returnees,Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi of Kano Pillars may be included to fortify the team with their experience. Who says we cannot cross this Ghana hurdle if we do the needful?
Hilary,
What about Dominion Ohaka, Godwin Obaje, Sodiq Ismail and Kenneth Igboke?
Are Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi really qualified to play for the CHAN Eagles? Not technically disqualified as they’re foreign based returnees?
That aside, I’m confident Nigeria will get the better of their Anglophone neighbors this time around.
For the first time in a long time, I feel “no-shaking” about our team facing Ghana.
With our local league uninterrupted and in full swing and the Chan Eagles anchored by local champion coaches, I believe we are in good nick.
So bring on Ghana!
FUFU vs BANKU.
Game on.
@ deo,I mentioned Kenneth Igboke above just that as I clicked to submit my comments the name changed to Kenneth Igbokwe. Well,the Enugu Rangers left back is presently training with the Flying Eagles under Federation Cup winning coach,Alyu Zubairu.
Sodiq Ismail of Remo stars is the best right back in the NPFL currently. Recall that he has been already capped for the Super Eagles A team under former Eagles coach Finidi George.
Dominic Ohaka,a right back, showed so much promise in a friendly with the home Eagles but fizzle out when it mattered most. He did not cover himself in glory when he later trained with the Flying Eagles.
For Godwin Obaje,a very good forward with an eye for goals,he needs to be more consistent to deserve a call up to the home Eagles.
The upcoming CHAN competition will be significant as three Eastern African countries in the shape of Kenya , Tanzania and Uganda will co-host for the first time. Foreign scouts will definitely swoop on the scene to run the rule on top performers.
@ Kel,the duo of Ahmed Musa and Shehu Abdullahi are eligible to be selected by Nigeria for the CHAN competition. The competition is for players who play in the local league of respective CAF affiliate nations. Having been registered by Kano Pillars in the ongoing season they are now eligible to join the CHAn Eagles.
This is where FINIDI should have started from, not the main SUPER EAGLES. Again,I it were possible, Ahmed Musa should captain the team. I wish the team all the best
This is where FINIDI should have started from, not the main SUPER EAGLES. Again,I it were possible, Ahmed Musa should captain the team. I wish the team all the best
My only regret about the upcoming CHAN competition is that the best goalkeepers in the NPFL were not patient enough to wait before joining relatively lowly teams in leagues that are still in Africa. For instance ,Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke joined Al Merriekh of Sudan, Bendel insurance safest hands,Amas Obasogie joined Ketemavof Ethiopia,Rivers united goalie Victor Sochima joined Tabora United of Tanzania. It was only “the Wall of Lagos”, Christian Nwoke who pitched his tent with Danish side,Arhus Fremad. We are now left with Adewale Adeyinka,Kayode Bankole , Kingdom Osayi and few others.
Not having to play this October buys us quality time for preparations. But knowing Gusau, preparations have a different meaning in his own dictionary.
Thanks Hilary for those player updates. The names youve mention are practically the best and household names in the league. But I’ll be wearing the thickest and most electrically resistant insulators I can find by the time the NFF releases the list of CHAN invitees. I don’t want to be shocked like I’ve just touched an old fridge with wet hands barefooted.
Since WAFU B is coming up b4 december, I’ll suggest the best from the U20s should form the bulk of the CHAN team, and win or lose at WAFU, their coach should be co-opted into the CHAN crew….afterall, he’s also a “local champion” as Deo put it.
We’d probably be killing 3 birds with one stone by taking that approach.