Head coach of Nigeria U-23s Samson Siasia will on Friday name a final list of 23 players who will represent the team at a pre Olympic friendly tournament in Suwon,South Korea.
Presently close to 29 players are in the team’s camp in Abuja following the arrival of all but one of the invited foreign based players meaning seven players will be cut from the squad on Friday.
Owngoalnigeria.com spoke to some of the players on the condition of anonymity and although most were positive of their chances of making the squad for the tournament, one thing that was clear was the caution with which they said it.
Some foreign based players were also not confident of their chances as they fear their late arrival to camp could scuttle their chances of making the team to the tournament which will go a long way in determining who makes the team for the Rio Olympics later in the year.
The Nigeria U-23 team is about the most competitive for now in the nation going by the interest shown by several top players within and outside the age bracket in been a part of the team.
Siasia yet to name his three overage players is keen on winning the football event of the Rio Olympics to make up for the disappointments of losing in the final of the 2008 edition to Argentina.
Shortly after leading the team to victory in Senegal at the Africa U-23 championship he made it clear that he will beef up the squad for the Rio Olympics.
*Ahmad Ishaya
