Nigeria international Ahmed Musa has been ruled out of the Super Eagles’ squad for the upcoming Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers against Ghana due to eligibility concerns. Despite returning to Nigeria to join NPFL side Kano Pillars on a short-term deal, Musa will not feature in the crucial matches scheduled for next month. His exclusion has sparked questions, as he was expected to be included in the team for the qualifiers.
Musa, the immediate past captain of the Super Eagles, made headlines when he rejoined Kano Pillars after years of playing abroad, most recently with Turkish side Sivasspor. His return to the domestic league generated excitement, with many hopeful that he would play a key role in Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2025 CHAN tournament.
However, the 31-year-old former Leicester City striker was noticeably absent when Interim Head Coach Augustine ‘Cerezo’ Eguavoen released the list of invited players for the CHAN qualifiers. The omission raised eyebrows, with fans and analysts alike wondering about the reason behind Musa’s absence from the squad.
The explanation for Musa’s exclusion lies in the eligibility rules set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). According to Article 38: 16 of CAF’s regulations for the Africa Nations Championship, only players with permanent contracts, registered by a local club affiliated with their National Association, are eligible to participate. As Musa signed a short-term deal with Kano Pillars, his contract did not meet the criteria set by CAF, thereby disqualifying him from the qualifiers.
This rule, as outlined in Article 38: 2, ensures that only players who are committed to domestic clubs for the long term can represent their countries in the CHAN tournament. Unfortunately, Musa’s situation with Kano Pillars, being a temporary arrangement, falls outside this regulation, leaving him sidelined for the upcoming match against Ghana.
Despite his absence, the Nigeria CHAN Eagles, led by Coach Austin ‘Cerezo’ Eguavoen, have already opened camp as preparations begin for the double-header qualifier. The team is focused on securing a spot in the 2025 CHAN tournament, with a series of challenging games ahead. Eguavoen will rely on the players available to him as they aim to overcome Ghana in the qualifiers.
This year’s CHAN qualifier holds significant weight for both nations. Ghana defeated Nigeria in the qualifiers for the last edition of the tournament, held in Abidjan last year, denying Nigeria a spot in the 2024 competition. Ghana, now looking to build on that success, will be aiming to make a return to the tournament in 2025, while Nigeria will be determined to reclaim their place on the continental stage.
The absence of Ahmed Musa from the squad may be a setback for Nigeria, but the team remains focused and determined to secure qualification under Eguavoen’s leadership. The Super Eagles will need to regroup and prepare for a tough challenge as they face their West African rivals, Ghana, in the upcoming qualifiers.
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