Dream Team head coach, Samson Siasia has selected the trio of John Mikel Obi, Godfrey Oboabona and Daniel Akpeyi as three over-aged players in the 35-man list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Friday.
The NFF disclosed that the country’s Olympic football team will depart the country next week for a final training camp in the United States of America ahead of this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to the NFF release, Siasia opted for a final training camp in Atlanta, venue of Nigeria’s historic triumph 20 years ago, inorder to “psychologically prepare my boys for victory in Brazil.”
Earlier in the week, the NFF confirmed that there would be a friendly match between the Nigeria Olympic team and the U23 National Team of Mexico in Mexico on Saturday, 2nd July. The match will take place at the Aguascalientes Stadium, home ground of newly promoted top tier club, Necaxa FC, and is scheduled to start at 8:30pm Mexican time.
The NFF also announced that after the friendly, the Nigeria U-23 squad will continue its training camp in the United States of America and will play Charleston Battery FC in Atlanta on Saturday, 16thJuly. A game against the Honduras U-23 team is also being planned for 27th July.
Meanwhile, players who have had experience playing in the Nigeria senior team constitute half of those listed in Coach Siasia’s provisional squad of 35, who will train in the USA before a final list of18 is drawn up just before the trip to Brazil.
Super Eagles’ captain John Mikel Obi, South Africa–based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defendersWilliam Troost Ekong, Musa Muhammed, Stanley Amuzie, Kingsley Madu, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo,Okechukwu Azubuike, Imoh Ezekiel, Usman Mohammed and Abdullahi Shehu, and forwards Alex Iwobi, Jude Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho and Aminu Umar are on the list.
The Full List:
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa FC, South Africa), Yusuf Bala (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers), Taiwo Abdulrahman (Kwara United), Ndubuisi Agu (FC Porto, Portugal), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal), Taiwo Awoniyi (Frankfurt FC, Germany), Okechukwu Azubuike (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Etor Daniel (Enyimba FC), Augustine Dimgba (Sunshine Stars), William Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway), Saturday Erimuya (Kayseri Erciyespor, Turkey), OghenekaroEtebo (CD Feirense FC, Portugal), Imoh Ezekiel (Anderlecht, Belgium), Saviour Godwin (Ostende, Belgium), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England), Emiloju Julius (MFM FC), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England), Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Usman Muhammed (CF Uniao, Portugal), Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium), Erhun Obanor (MFM FC), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea FC, England), Sodiq Saliu (Seraing FC, Belgium), Abdullahi Shehu (CF Uniao, Portugal), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium), Seth Sincere (Rhapsody FC), Ndifreke Udo (Abia Warriors), Aminu Umar (Osmalispor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (AS Roma, Italy)
