Siasia’s 20-man team leaves for Brazil for friendly

As part of preparations towards discovering the best legs that will prosecute the Olympics football event in Rio, Brazil, Coach Samson Siasia, has released a 20-man U-23 team list that will face Brazil in an international friendly scheduled for next Thursday, at the Kleber Andrade Stadium in Vitoria, Brazil.

The U-23 Eagles qualified for the Olympics after defeating the host, Senegal, in the maiden CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations to claim one of Africa’s three automatic Rio tickets.

Nigeria and Brazil played memorable semi final battle at the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta, USA 20 years ago, which Nigeria won in extra time.

According to the team list made available to thenff.com, there are nine home-based professionals, while the foreign legion will supply 11 players.

Midfielder Usman Mohammed and forward Bright Onyedikachi were dropped because of visa hiccups, as both players submitted their passports late, while left back Chima Akas was dropped because he travelled with his club, Enyimba Football Club for a CAF Champions League tie in Burundi.

The technical crew also recalled goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel and defender Sincere Seth from the Super Eagles to strengthen the team, which also has Ubong Ekpai, Stanley Dimgba and Segun Oduduwa.

The team is expected to depart for Brazil via South Africa from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos today, aboard a South African Airways flight. On arrival in Sao Paulo, the Nigerian delegation would be flown to Vitoria, where they would be lodged at the Hotel Ilha Do Boi-Senac.

The list of players include:
1. Emmanuel Daniel
 2. Yusuf Mohammed 
3. Sincere Seth
4. Segun Oduduwa 
5. Chizoba Amaefule
 6. Ndifreke Effiong
7. Stanley Dimgba 
8. Ubong Ekpai 
9. Victor Osimhen
 10. Sodiq Popoola
 11. Godswill Ekpolo
 12. Nathan Oduwa 
13. Junior Ajayi
14. Taiwo Awoniyi
 15. Imoh Ezekiel
 16. Agboyi Ovbokha 
17. Musa Mohammed
 18. Theophilous Solomon
 19. Saturday Kaego
20. Iyayi Believe.