EXCLUSIVE By Johnny Edward:
Completesportsnigeria.com can exclusively report that Nigeria U-23s coach Samson Siasia has picked Super Eagles stars Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo and South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi as the three over-aged players for his squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
Siasia who is currently in Port Harcourt for the Joseph Yobo testimonial got the approval to name current Nigeria skipper Mikel from the Chelsea for the Games during the coach’s recent visit to Chelsea’s Cobhams training ground this month, it was also gathered.
But Siasia may miss the services of Arsenal’s teenage star Alex Iwobi, as Arsenal are yet to clear the youngster.
However, the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Shehu Abdullahi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Azubuike Okechukwu are sure bets for the games.
Also Completesportsnigeria.com gathered that the chances of AS Roma duo of Nura Abdulahi and Sadiq Umar making the Olympic squad are slim.
Siasia recently named a 20-man squad expected to depart next Monday for the pre-Olympics Suwon invitational four-nation tournament.
Nigeria are in Group B alongside Sweden, Japan and Colombia at the Rio 2016 men’s football event.
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COMMENTS
Nigeria will be too hard to handle with these players on the field. Iwobi should be a must o. He is a fighter. I would have loved Musa Ahmed to be there too but as it is Siasia does the selection. I wish the dream team all the best if the call to postpone the game because of zika is not heeded.
I want to believe this is not true. Akpeyi? What for? To me, that U-23 goal keeper is very good, I mean very good. We don’t need any goalkeeper again. The 3 over-aged spots should be used to make weak points strong, not to make the strong point stronger. After all, it simply means either Akpeyi or Emmanuel would be on d bench. That would be tantamount to wastage . Why can’t we call a player like Balogun to strengthen the defence that seems very weak? I think Mikel is OK. They need his maturity. But Ighalo has lost form. Siasia should pls be very careful in his selection o. God bless Naija
Ighalo! Please Siasia, he has lost form both in club and country. Can't you see even clubs that were after him before now are no longer interested in signing him again. Fortify the defence by bringing Leon and you will be okay. For the attack you already have many guns that can do the job. I wish you well.
drop ighalo, get us chisom chikatara abeg you with big head siasia
I will rather take Musa ahead of Ighalo. Musa has better goals record in Europe than any Nigerian player. We need him. Ighalo is good but Musa is better. Having two good goalkeepers is ok. Just in case of any injury. We will still have a quality keeper to call on. Generally the team is good and we can win gold again.