Coach Imama Amapakabo has put behind the pains of the Super Eagles B failure to secure the 2020 CHAN ticket, and has now focused on the Olympic Eagles’ title defence at the 2019 U-23 AFCON billed for Egypt next month, Completesports.com reports.
Amapakabo, a former Nigeria junior international goalkeeper, has called back his Olympic Eagles into camp, starting with players plying their trades in the domestic league.
The team’s training camp doors were flung open on Monday with the players drilled in training by the former Enugu Rangers coach.
The defending champions of the U-23 AFCON, eased past Sudan 5-1 on aggregate to book a place in the 3rd U-23 AFCON in Cairo, Egypt from where Africa’s three representatives at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will emerge.
“The foreign based players would be joining the team next week Monday,” Amapakabo told Completesports.com during an exclusive chat.
“We’ve had three weeks closed door camping before now. So, this time, we are going to have just two weeks training before traveling to Egypt.
“A week of training together, I mean both the home and foreign based players will put the team in good mood going into the championship.”
The U23 AFCON will hold from November 8 until November 22 in Egypt.
Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles are in Group B alongside Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Zambia and all the matches will be played at Al Salam Stadium, Cairo.
The team will get their campaign underway with a tough opener against West African rivals, Ivory Coast.
By Sab Osuji
16 Comments
Haaaaa this man again?
I still dey laugh.
I can predict the outcome of the tournament
Which european team wilk be releasing there players for 2 weeks
“The foreign based players would be joining the team next week Monday,” Amapakabo told Completesports.com during an exclusive chat.
“A week of training together, I mean both the home and foreign based players will put the team in good mood going into the championship.”
What if none of the foreign pros are released? Now what?
This is a LAZY approach. Cheating sort off! Always depending on foreign pros. What club in their right mind will release their players? Is NFF or Nigerians paying their wages?
This coach should have a formidable home based U23 team by now…
Osimen chukeze awoniyi nwakali someone shud help me with the player name I beg. I see a mirage in front.
You’re funny .
Osimen chukeze awoniyi nwakali someone shud help me with the player name I beg. I see a mirage in front.Egypt will play with national team open we know.
This failure of a man again!!
Kai, this NFF that has been my best since they came on have suddenly became Bunch of Monsters and it’s pretty obvious they don’t want the best for Nigeria football again! We just got knocked out of a tournament all thanks to there Bad league, Incompetent Yeye Coach and lazy players and now they want to take those set of same players for Olympic Tournament. Can we afford to miss out on Olympics again??? NFF please save us yet another Calamity coming up.
#Sack Imama Now!
Hahaha@chairmamfemi this has been my cry since the first day of Imama appointment,i see another embarrassment coming,imama is among the worst enemy of this current nff board,but they don’t know,
Women Olympics football team out. Chan team out. Men’s Olympics team preparing to go out. Ah, only EPL & La Liga to watch in 2020 then? Abeg, what football event with Nigerian national team can we look forward to in 2020 again? Nothing! Pinnick is now a saboteur, still keeping Aigbogun, Imama, Danjuma & co as paid coaches.
Our women actually qualified for ORLU-MPICS. Not OLY, but ORLU. While their mates are slugging it out at the games next year, our ladies will be in Orlu, eating Ngwo ngwo and drinking palmy. As for our CHAN team, they have been Jackie Chan-ed out of CHAN by “The African football giant” Togo. Hehehehehe! If not for Gernot Rohr and the Super Eagles, can one see anything good in Nigerian football currently? We need to qualify for this Olympic soccer tourney. No excuses please!!!
FIFA’s official international match calendar for is 11-19 November 2019. He should be able to have few important players to play in the group games. The most important thing is to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
I wouldn’t blame Imama for the Chan team failure.It would be malicious to disrespect this dedicated coach who has shown promise despite finding himself in a very difficult working conditions.
Meanwhile,for fear of not having our major players from Europe released,the Nff have got in touch with some players and their clubs which have promised to release this set of players.The players aren’t ones playing in major leagues in Europe but are good players that will add value to the team.
The team needs it’s foreign counterparts who are having a regular season and could do with their fitness unlike our domestic players that have not played any football for over four months going.
It’s hard to predict the fortune of this team until the tournament gets on the way.The coach has worked with the players he is taking to Egypt for a few months now,so should be able to breed a team good enough to compete and all he needs is our support. Hopefully,he gets the job done by booking a ticket for Tokyo Olympics.
Mr amapakabo. I beg go and wash ur hands clean before u start ur preparations becos you havnt impressed at all! Nwankali and azubuike is your only hope and dats not enough. U better go and scout for tilents. I think they full lagos edo and the east please scout scout oooooh.. i cant afford to mix the eagles in this coming olympics nbano! Go to bulgeria infact that solomon otabo is good ebough too. Kinsley micheal. Dele bashiru. Infact iheanacho too should come afterall he is not playing at licester at the moment. Onyekuru too is bot happy with monaco they might alow him to go for a while. Just try ur best qualify. Infact i am begin
Eeee eee!! ee Imama Amapakabo again !! I bind you IJN It’s high time you left our hearts alone, enough is enough !
I am not confident in the ability Coach Amama to lead Olympic Eagles to success. I think he needs help from more experienced Coaches.