This followed the recent expiration and subsequent dissolution of the previous Kano Pillars Football Club management board.

The governor stated this in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, on Sunday.

The new board members will serve for an interim period of one year, with the potential for renewal, based on the team’s performance in the upcoming seasons.

The new board has Ali Umar (Nayara Mai Samba), as the Chairman, and Salisu Kosawa as an Honorary member.

Others who will serve as members include Yusuf Danladi (Andy Cole), Nasiru Bello, Muhammad Ibrahim (Hassan West), Muhammad Usman, and Muhammad Gwarzo.

Also, Mustapha Dankura, Ahmad Musbahu, Rabiu Abdullahi and Usman Naisa, while Abubakar Yamalash and Ismail Tangalash are to serve as Media Director and Deputy Media Director respectively.

The governor expressed confidence that these individuals will deploy their wealth of knowledge and experiences that will be instrumental in managing and overseeing the affairs of Kano Pillars FC.

The new board is expected to work closely with the state Ministry of Youth and Sports alongside other relevant stakeholders in the sports industry to promote Kano Pillars FC.

Also, the governor approved the appointment of Nigerian Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa, as the Kano State Sports Ambassador.

Also on the list is in-form forward Victor Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for his club side SSC Napoli helped the Italian giants to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years.

Osimhen, who tops the strikers’ list, has also recently been honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic by the Nigerian government.

He also received a special ball and jersey from the world football-ruling body, FIFA, for his magnificent season.

The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs, who have seven points. Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who’ll play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are at the bottom with only one point.

Nigeria and Sierra Leone will clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, June 18, as Sierra Leone do not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches.

FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS

Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United, Nigeria); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC, Nigeria).

Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England), Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands), Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany), Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United. Nigeria), Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), and Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey).

Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England), Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England), Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

Forwards: Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy). Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France), Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England), Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey).

The friendly against Algeria will take place at the Miloud Hadefi Stadium, Oran on Tuesday, September 27.

We’re regrouping again for a friendly against Algeria on September 27, 2022. Quick update: Injured (Ruled out of the friendly): Musa, Chukwueze, Balogun, Onyekuru. Replacements: Ozornwafor, Godwin Saviour, Ebube Duru, Dennis,” a statement from National Team read.

They become the third and fourth player to miss the encounter after the duo of Leon Balogun and Henry Onyekuru pulled out of the game on account of injuries.

Musa, who made his first start for Sivasspor on Sunday in their 2-1 loss to Ankaragucu was replaced after 19th minutes by Clinton N’Jie after he fractured his arm in the encounter after stretching his left hand in a duel with a defender.

Musa’s left arm was fractured and the treatment process has started immediately,” a statement on Sivasspor’s website reads.

The 29-year-old is Nigeria’s most-capped player in history, having played 106 matches since his debut aged just 17 in 2010. He helped the Eagles win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and played for them at the last two World Cups.

Musa who spoke at a press conference on Tuesday January 4, noted that they are being owed bonuses from two matches.

Musa assured Nigerians that the bonuses and allowances would not be a big issue ahead of the AFCON tournament.

He said“There is no other outstanding outside these two games. We are going to be having a meeting with the coach and maybe the NFF officials so we can take the next step forward.”

The former Leicester City and CSKA Moscow winger, 28, signed for the four-time Nigerian champions on Thursday, April 15, under the Elite Players Program of the League Management Company (LMC), which encourages top Nigerian internationals to play for local clubs.

Explaining the terms of the deal, Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the LMC, told ESPN that the program works in two ways. A club can identify and sign such players, or the LMC itself can sign the player and assign them to a club of their choice.

Dikko said “We spoke to him about coming back home to play, and as someone who is always ready to give back, he did not hesitate. Once the agreement was signed, the choice of which club to play for was up to him. A number of clubs wanted him. We put everything in front of him and he made the decision to go to Kano Pillars. We didn’t speak much about it. Musa is someone who is more concerned about giving back to the club that made him and he is not coming here to do this for money. He is not getting paid for playing for Pillars. That is the kind of person he is”