Rabiu Ali has expressed his joy at returning to the Super Eagles B team, sharing his hopes for the squad to secure qualification for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals, set to take place in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda in February 2025.
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Speaking exclusively to softfootball.com, the Kano Pillars midfielder emphasized his ambition to win gold after previously earning bronze and silver medals in the tournament.
Ali was a key player in the late Stephen Keshi’s Super Eagles B team that clinched a bronze medal at CHAN 2014 in South Africa.
Four years later, he was part of Salisu Yusuf’s squad that reached the final but fell 4-0 to Morocco in Casablanca, securing the silver medal. Now, Ali has set his sights on completing his medal collection with gold.
“I’m grateful to Almighty Allah for giving me the opportunity to be part of the Super Eagles B team again,” Ali said after a training session at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. “It’s every player’s dream to represent their country, and not everyone gets this chance. That’s why I’m so thankful for this call-up.
“This will be my third time in the tournament finals if we qualify, and I’m praying for us to beat Ghana on Saturday. Securing the ticket to CHAN is the first objective. With the quality of players we have, as seen in training, I believe we can beat Ghana and make it to the finals.”
Ali acknowledged the fierce rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana but expressed confidence in the Super Eagles B team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
“The coaches have worked tirelessly, and now it’s up to us to deliver on the pitch. We know the rivalry with Ghana is intense, but we’re determined to make Nigerians proud,” he stated.
When asked about the significance of a victory, Ali highlighted its importance in advancing to the CHAN finals and his personal goal of claiming the elusive gold medal.
“For me, winning the trophy next year would be monumental. I’ve already won bronze in 2014 and silver in 2018. If Allah blesses us with the gold in 2025, it would be the crowning achievement of my career,” Ali concluded.
