The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rabiu

  • Rabiu ready for Premier League

    Kano Pillars midfielder, Rabiu Ali says he is bracing up for the 2014/15 Premier League Pre-season Tournament which begins in Abuja on Saturday.

    Fresh from a Middle East tour with the Super Eagles where they played Yemen and Ivory Coast, Ali says he is now focused on featuring in the pre-season tournament.

    Ali shrugged off talks of fatigue following his international exertions with the Super Eagles in the past two weeks.

    “I’m looking forward to playing in the tournament for Kano Pillars. It is a good chance for us to prepare well for the Champions League and the new league season too.

    “No I’m not tired. As a professional player I’m conditioning myself for the new season. We’ve been off season for some time now and it is good that I’m involved in playing games to keep me in shape and the pre-season tournament is also good for me and my team,” Ali told www.npfl.ng.

    NPFL champions Kano Pillars will face last year’s Federation Cup finalists Dolphins in the opening game of the pre-season tournament, and Ali says: “I am ready for that match.”

    League runners-up from last season, Enyimba, and third placed Warri Wolves as well as the Flying Eagles and the Dream Team VI are all also expected to feature in the mini tournament.

  • AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    AFCON: Rabiu, two others dropped from Eagles’ squad

    Super Eagles technical crew has dropped three players from the team pre-AFCON camp in Faro, Portugal, supersport.com reports.

    The three players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche.

    On Saturday, Rizespor forward, Uche Kalu ruled out himself from the Africa Cup of Nations after struggling to overcome a groin injury.

    “Head coach, Stephen Keshi has left out three players from his plans for the Nations Cup. The players are Rabiu Ibrahim, Papa Idris and Henry Uche. We have more than 23 players in camp and the chop had to take place somehow. So apart from Uche Kalu who had been excused due to injury, these three will leave camp.

    “Interestingly, the players left out are still part of the plans of the coach for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers that will be played this year. So Rabiu, Papa Idris and Henry Uche are still in the team,” spokesman of the Nigerian squad told supersport.com on Monday.

    However, there are still 27 players in camp and four more players will be dropped this week from the squad.

     

  • Rabiu Ibrahim quits Celtic

    Rabiu Ibrahim quits Celtic

    … Joins Kilmarnock

    Kilmarnock has completed the signing of Nigeria midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim from Celtic on a permanent basis.

    MTNFootball.com reports that the 21-year-old has agreed a two-year contract with the Rugby Park club after Celtic allowed him to move on in search of regular first-team football.

    Ibrahim had an offer from abroad and was also believed to be a loan target for other Scottish sides.

    “He’s signed a two year deal with us,” Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels told STV.

    “I believe it’s quite a coup for Kilmarnock and we are a good fit for him.

    “Rabiu had an offer from a club in Russia but he and his advisors thought it would be better for his career development to stay in Scotland and they were equally as keen as we were for the deal to go through.

    “We signed him on a free transfer.”

    Ibrahim will not join up with his new team-mates immediately as he is currently with the Super Eagles ahead of the team’s friendly with Catalonia on Wednesday night.

    The player, who has been capped at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 levels by his country, has also been included in Nigeria’s preliminary squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    “He’s away with the Nigeria squad for the AFCON at the moment,” Shiels said.

    “I believe January 9 is the deadline for them to name their final squad. I would quite like him to be name in the squad for his confidence.

    “If he is named then as soon as they go out of the competition he will join up with us,” the Kilmarnock boss added.