After failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, Nigeria’s U-23 national team, (Dream Team VI), lead by renowned tactician Samson Siasia, will be hoping to avoid a repeat as he unveiled his killer squad for the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations which takes place this weekend in Dakar, Senegal; a tournament, which will decide Africa’s representatives for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
The list is made up of FIFA 2015 U-17 World Cup highest goalscorer Victor Osimhen and also features three foreign-based players – Okechukwu Azubuike, Taiwo Awoniyi and Junior Ajayi.
While announcing the squad, Siasia said he is sad he had to drop some players but only 21 players can make the squad for the tournament.
The team faces an uphill task in Group B alongside Mali, Algeria and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Siasia have lamented the reluctance of foreign clubs to release their players. The likes of Umar Aminu and Shehu Abdullahi are two players Siasia would have loved to have at the U-23 AFCON, but the duo will not feature for at this month’s tournament after their clubs refused to release them. Aminu’s Turkish club Osmanlispor and Shehi’s C.F. Uniao are within their rights to do so because the U-23 AFCON is not a FIFA sanctioned tournament.
But the former Super Eagles forward will be boosted with the call of FIFA U-17 World Cup top scorer, Victor Osimhen to the squad following the absence of Granada of Spain striker, Isaac Success who picked up an injury.
After scoring 10 goals to help Nigeria win the FIFA cadet mundial for the fifth time last month, Osimhen will definitely be a big addition Nigerian squad.
The tournament’s finalists will represent Africa at 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Siasia and his wards have the arduous task of picking a ticket at the championship, which is designed to select Africa’s representatives for next year’s Olympics.
Nigeria missed the last edition in London in 2012 and will looking to make up for that with a qualification for the event.
Nigeria won in 1996 when Nwankwo Kanu-inspired Nigeria led team to beat Brazil in the semifinals and went ahead to clinch the title after beating Argentina in the final.
The Bayelsa born tactician was in charge of the 2008 U-23 team to the Beijing Olympics that lost in the final to an Argentina side that had the likes of Angel Di Maria and Lionel Messi.
Siasia picked up the bronze medal at that All Africa Games in Congo in September and will look forward to another fine finish on the podium at Senegal.
In their build up games ahead of the tournament, Nigeria Olympic team were held to a 1-1 draw by the Gambia U-20 on Monday in Brikama, as coach Siasia fine-tunes his changes for the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Dream Team will face stiff opposition in Group B with Algeria, Egypt and Mali for a place in the finals.
Nigeria opponent on Sunday Mali has also unveiled a 21-man squad list by coach Cheick Oumar Kone.
Kone decided to bring along several bronze medalists from the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, including keeper Djigui Diarra, defenders Aboubacar Doumbia and Souleymane Coulibaly, midfielders Diadié Samassékou and Souleymane Diarra and striker Souleymane Sissoko to fortify the team.
They will launch their continental campaign against Nigeria on 29 November, before taking on other two Group B opponents, Algeria and Egypt.
Osimhen remains the only member of the victorious Chile 2015 Eaglets, who makes cut for the U-23 African championship where the Dream Team VI is set to face the Eagles of Mali on Sunday in the opening group B match.
The tournament runs from November 28th to December 12th in the Senegalese cities of Dakar and M’bour.
Anthony Nlebem