By: Felix Ikpotor
Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has named an 18-man squad for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Players such as Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Godwin Saviour are missing from the list.
However, the coach has named the two players, along with Sunshine Stars winger, Stanley Dimgba and Kano Pillars goalkeeper, Yusuf Mohammed as alternate players to replace injured or unavailable team-mates if the need arises.
But the rule bars them from being accredited for the competition or has access to the official games village.
Siasia also named Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi and South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi as the two over aged players.
Here is a full list of the 18-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Emmanuel Daniel.
Defenders: Sincere Seth, Kingsley Madu, Saturday Erimuya, William Troost-Ekong, Ndifreke Effiong, Stanley Amuzie.
Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Popoola Sodiq, Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Shehu Abdullahi.
Strikers: Umar Aminu, Imoh Ezekiel, Junior Ajayi, Sadiq Umar.
Alternate players:
Taiwo Awoniyi, Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Stanley Dimgba (Sunshine Stars) and Godwin Saviour.
