The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rabiu Ali

  • Fans confident Super Eagles will reach semis despite draw

    Fans confident Super Eagles will reach semis despite draw

    Football enthusiasts have expressed confidence that the Super Eagles will qualify for the semi-finals of the West Africa Football Union ( WAFU ) Cup of Nations tournament in spite of draw in their first group game.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the home-based Super Eagles were held to a 0-0 draw by Mali in their Group A opener at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Ghana on Thursday.

    A cross section of football enthusiasts who spoke to NAN on Friday said the group was still open as the Eagles’ could still finish on top of the table should they win their remaining games.

    Musa Talle, Chairman, FCT Football Association, said the game against Mali was an evenly and fairly contested match between the two West African football powerhouses.

    “Our game against Mali was a tough one, but the boys managed to grind out a ‘somewhat’ positive result from the encounter.

    “Even though they could not score, they also did not concede which is very important.

    “Now, they have one point with two more games to play in the group stage and I am confident that they will be ready for the games against Guinea and hosts Ghana.

    “I am sure they know the pride and history that comes with such games, especially that of Ghana, so they will be prepared to up their game,’’ he said.

    Coach Bala Mohammed of Niger Tornadoes observed that the Eagles were resilient and dogged in the defence but wasteful in front of goal.

    “I have no problem with the defence department but the attackers wasted a lot of scoring opportunities.

    “Therefore, the Eagles must ensure they work on their finishing if they hope to go far in the competition,’’ he said.

    Usman Ilerika, the Acting Secretary, FCT Football Association, said that even though the boys failed to convert some clear cut chances at goal, they were hard done by poor officiating.

    “I am not trying to make any excuse for the Eagles’ firing blank against Mali, however, I think they were hard done by some poor decisions made by the referee.

    “There were several talking points, including some questionable officiating in the first half, when the Assistant Referee wrongly ruled Festus Eduwo offside after Rabiu Ali put the ball in the net.

    “Nevertheless, the boys must put the game behind them and focus on the next against Guinea which is a must win if they hope to qualify for the semi-finals,’’ he said.

    Godwin Bamigboye, the Chairman, FCT Chapter of Nigeria Football Coaches Association said; “Hopefully, we’ll survive from the group. It is only the first game.

    “Ghana is on three points after their victory over Guinea and that puts pressure on us to also get our three points against Guinea.

    “I believe we can beat them and hope the hosts also beat Mali. If that happens, then we stand a better chance of qualifying for the semi-finals,’’ he said.

    NAN also reports that the group’s other game saw hosts Ghana beat Guinea 2-0 on Thursday.

    The home-based Eagles’ next game comes up on Saturday against Guinea at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast.

    They will then face hosts Ghana on Monday.

  • NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Kano Pillars 2-0

    NPFL: Wikki Tourists beat Kano Pillars 2-0

    Hosts Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi on Sunday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium defeated Kano Pillars FC of Kano 2-0 in a 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

    Wikki Tourists scored the opening goal of the Match Day 28 fixture eight minutes into the game through Alhmed Usman after he wriggled past the visiting defenceline.

    They scored their second goal 48 minutes into the match through Chinedu Aneibor when he made good use of a deflection by right winger Ambrose Peter.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wikki Tourists were with a more purposeful and coordinated approach, but poor finishing by their strikers robbed them of scoring many goals.

    Kano Pillars, on their part, dominated the game in the second half, only to find their rhythm affected by three yellow cards received by Rabiu Ali, Chinedu Udoji and Ibrahim Alassan.

    Bala Nikyu, Chief Coach of Wikki Tourists, later described the match’s officiating as fantastic.

    “In our last three matches, the officiating especially in Ibadan was fantastic. In this one too, the officiating was good.’’

    He attributed the successes he had recorded since he assumed leadership of the team to the cordial relationship between him and the players.

    Ibrahim Musa, the Chief Coach of Kano Pillars, on his part described Wikki Tourists as “a good team’’.

    “But my boys too played very well, in spite of the little mistakes.

    “When we go back to Kano, we will see how we can correct such mistakes before our next match,” the coach said.

  • Pillars have learnt a lot of lessons, says Rabiu Ali

    Pillars have learnt a lot of lessons, says Rabiu Ali

    Rabiu Ali is optimistic that Kano Pillars can do a clean sweep of available trophies next season.

    “Last season is gone and we learnt a whole lot. Though I won’t admit that 2016 was a disappointing season for us because we  competed well but we lost concentration at the crucial stage of the season where we needed to pull through,” Ali told Goal.

    “However, lessons have been learnt and antidote has been offered. An experienced coach in Kadiri Ikhana is in charge and a couple of signings have been done. The team is looking good and preseason activities is going on fine.”

    Kano Pillars finished seventh on the NPFL 2015/16 season table, nine points adrift champions, Enugu Rangers.

  • Rabiu Ali’s father dies at 72

    Rabiu Ali’s father dies at 72

    Kano Pillars vice captain, Rabiu Ali’s father Alh Ali Fagge has died.
    Fagge, who died early Saturday morning, was buried at the Rimin kebbe Grave yard in Kano city by 9am according to the islamic rite.
    Fagge died at the age of 72 years after protracted illiness and left behind many children and grand children.
    Hundreds of Muslims ummah across Kano State which includes Kano Pillars fc management, supporters’ club and Chairman Kano State Sports Commission Alh. Ibrahim Galadima attended the burial prayer.
    After the burial the chairman of the club, Alh. Tukur Babangida on behalf of the board, players, technical crew and entire supporters condoled with Rabi’u Ali and his entire family for the lost of their father and prayed to Almighty Allah to give the departed soul jannatul firdausi.
    Tukur described the death as a great lost not only to the Rabi u and his family but to entire Pillars FC family and the Muslims ummah in general.
    SportingLife gathered that football lovers accross the country started trooping to Kano to sympathise with Rabiu who returned to Kano from Lokoja where the Sai Masu Gida is camping for their pre-season preparation ahead of 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

  • Nigeria league Player of the Week (24):Rabiu Ali

    Nigeria league Player of the Week (24):Rabiu Ali

    Kano Pillars mercurial midfielder, Rabiu Ali is the player of Week 24 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after he scored a brace to help his club thrash Abia Warriors 5-0 in Kano on Sunday.

    The 29-year-old midfielder, who is known as “Pele” by his admirers, showed he still has something left in the tank.

    He was picked ahead of Sunshine Stars striker, Dele Olorundare, who scored a brace in his side’s 2-0 win over MFM; Plateau United’s Daddy Francis, who propelled the Jos club to a 2-0 win over table toppers Wikki Tourists by opening the scoring just after five minutes he was introduced and Onyebuchi Ajunwa, who scored the equaliser for FC IfeanyiUbah to earn a point in a 2-2 draw with Shooting Stars in Ibadan.

  • Rabiu Ali returns for Pillars

    Rabiu Ali returns for Pillars

    Kano Pillars have been boosted for today’s high-profile clash against Enugu Rangers with the return of star midfielder, Rabiu Ali after he was suspended for the team’s last game after picking up five bookings.

    “Rabiu is back for the game against Rangers, he has served out his suspension for accumulating five bookings after he missed the home game against Plateau United,” Pillars spokesman Idris Malikawa informed AfricanFootball.com.

    However, Pillars will be without defensive midfielder Usman Mohammed, who has been granted compassionate leave following the death of his father. It will be a battle of the title chasers when Rangers host Pillars at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu today.

    Pillars won the reverse fixture 2-1 on the opening day of the season.

  • Rabiu Ali dedicates goal to Gambo

    Rabiu Ali dedicates goal to Gambo

    Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali has dedicated his goal in the week 5 Glo League against Nasarawa United to their recuperating striker Gambo Mohammed.  Gambo suffered bullet wounds when robbers opened fire on the team bus along Abaji-Lokoja road on their way to Owerri to honour league match. He is expected to be out of action for some weeks.  Ali scored Sai Masu Gida only goal in a 2-1 loss to Nasarawa United on Wednesday at the Lafia township. The home-based Eagles star told SportingLife that the team felt the absence of Gambo Mohammed. “It was a good game against Nasarawa United and we tried our best to get something out of the game. We hope to have all our players back in the team. I want Gambo to know that we are with him and I pray to Allah to give him good health and return to the pitch as quick as possible. I want to dedicate my goal in the game against Nasarawa United to him,” Ali told SportingLife.

  • Rabiu Ali returns for Pillars

    Rabiu Ali returns for Pillars

    Kano Pillars utility player Rabiu Ali will be available for today’s Glo Premier League week 35 Glo Premier League clash against Kaduna United at the Kano Pillars stadium, Sabon Gari Kano.

    The CHAN Eagles star and his teammate Nasifi Amani  made a trip to the holy land Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform this year Hajj.

    Ali and Amani returned to the country last Tuesday and they have not played for the Sai Masu Gida since their arrival.

    SportingLife gathered that Ali trained for the first time with the rest of the squad on Tuesday in preparation for today’s game but Amani did not.

    It was also learnt that the club’s all time top scorer, Gambo Mohammed who has been nursing injury will not be available for today’s game. Gambo missed the team’s last two games against Gombe United and Nasarawa United.

    The club’s media officer, Idris Malikawa, who also returned from Mecca on Friday, told SportingLife that today’s match will be a brotherly affair. He cautioned both fans to behave themselves, stressing that any fan that causes problems would be punished accordingly.

    “There is good relationship between Kano Pillars and Kaduna United. It is a family affair game. So we are urging our fans to maintain the relationship. Anyone found wanting will be dealt with. Our hope and aspiration is to play and enjoy good football,” Malikawa concluded.

  • Rabiu Ali in for Mexico friendly

    Rabiu Ali in for Mexico friendly

    Kano Pillars midfielder Rabiu Ali is set to battle France based Sunday Mba for a place on Nigeria World Cup squad.

    Rabiu Ali will therefore be one of the players from the 2014 CHAN for next month’s friendly against Mexico in the USA.

    The pre-World Cup friendly will be played on March 5 in Atlanta as part of the African champions’ preparation for the World Cup in June.

    MTNFootball.com can report that the Pillars playmaker was given permission by his club to get across his travel papers to Abuja ahead of application for visas into the US.

    “Rabiu was excused from the team’s training camp to proceed to Abuja to submit his papers for visa application to the USA,” a Pillars official disclosed.

    The skilful midfielder along with Ejike Uzoenyi and Kunle Odunlami were picked by CAF for the CHAN Tournament XI.

    Coach Stephen Keshi has already hinted he plans to call up several players from the recent CHAN in his build-up to Brazil 2014.

    And MTNFootball.com has gathered that Keshi has been most impressed with Rabiu’s creativity, which is desperately missing in his midfield combination of Mikel Obi and Ogenyi Onazi.