Etebor, Iwobi, Osimhen get U23 call up

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed that the ‘Dream Team’ will play an international friendly with the Brazilian Under-23 side on Thursday, March 24 in Brazil.

“The CBF is happy to host the champions of Africa, the Nigeria Olympic team, on the 24th March Fifa date at 7pm at the stadium of Kleber Andrade in the city of Cariacica, Vitoria, Espirito Santo.

“The match will serve as preparation for both teams for their participation in the Olympic Games Rio 2016,” The Confederation of Brazil Football (CBF) said in a statement.

Nigeria are reigning African champions at under-23 level after lifting the crown in Senegal last year and will look to replicate the feat of the class of 1996 who won Olympic gold at Atlanta ‘96.


Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, who is the NFF’s Fifa match agent, also confirmed to thenff.com that the game has been sealed.

“The match is sealed. We are happy to be able to swing this one and it will serve as good preparation for the Nigeria Olympic team ahead of Rio 2016.”

Consequently, Samson Siasia has invited 30 players, including Etebo and Osimhen, to camp to jostle for shirts for the international friendly against Brazil.

"For now, I invited this large number of players because I know not all of them will be able to make it even though we have sent out invitation letters to all of them,” Siasia said.

My major concern now is for them to come with letters from their clubs indicating that if they are eventually selected for the Games, their clubs will allow them report to camp when needed."

"For now, we are concentrating on those players we have no picture of how they will adapt to our playing pattern.
We intend to invite more such players as we go ahead. We already know some of the overseas-based pros we intend to work with, so we will be inviting those known faces as we progress in our build-up to the Games," he added.

Fatai Amoo, Siasia’s assistant, will be the substantive coach of the under-23 team after Siasia was saddled with the task of steering the Super Eagles towards Gabon 2017.

INVITED PLAYERS

Home Based: Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Segun Oduduwa, Erhun Obanor, Sincere Seth, Ndifreke Effiong, Ubong Ekpai, Bright Onyedikachi, Stanley Dimgba

Overseas Based: Dele Alampasu, Stanley Amuzie, Usman Mohammed, Azubuike Okechukwu, Sadiq Popoola, Etebo Oghenekaro, Saviour Godwin, Aminu Umar, Alex Iwobi, Iyayi Believe, Junior Ajayi, Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Olayinka, Theophilus Solomon, Godswill Ekpolo, Sergio Uyi, Ovbokha Agboyi, Nathan Oduwa, Musa Mohammed, Saturday Ekiego, Victor Osimhen