Two weeks of contrasting fortunes for U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has ended with sheer headache on which players he should pick for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations camp in Morocco.
Last week, it was a frustrated Siasia who cried out that his camp was empty due to clubs’ incessant demand for their players to report for club duties. This week, the story has changed as the former Super Eagles’ Head Coach is now faced with the problem of selecting the 30 players who will make his list to Morocco where the team will have a final camping before proceeding to Senegal for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting on 28 November.
All invited 35 home -based players were at the team’s training session on Tuesday evening, with competition intense as all struggled to impress as the list of 30 is soon to be compiled. The session was so charged that Siasia himself had to tell the players to take things easy so as to avoid injuries.
Expressing satisfaction with the players in camp, an elated Siasia said: “For now, all I can say is that I am very happy with what I have seen as the players came back from their club engagements fully refreshed and ready to do the nation proud. The NFF has also responded positively to my cry for the release of these players so we can prepare properly for the big task of picking one of Africa’s tickets for the football event of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“I must confess that selecting the 30 players who will be departing the shores of this country for Morocco is giving myself and my assistants real headache, but this is a positive headache which at the end of the day will enable us select only the best that will fly the nation’s flag with gusto.”
Meanwhile, the Dream Team will on Thursday at the National Stadium, Abuja trade tackles with newly promoted NPFL club Niger Tornadoes of Minna. The encounter is expected to kick off at 4pm.
On Saturday morning, the team will engage C.O.D FC of Lagos.
FULL LIST OF PLAYERS IN U-23 CAMP
1. Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
2. Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars)
3. Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland FC)
4. Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys)
5. Sincere Seth (Rhapsody Academy)
6. Erhun Obanor (Abia Warriors)
7. Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC)
8. Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)
9. Godwin Aguda (Enugu Rangers)
10. Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba)
11. Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors)
12. Chukwuebuka Iroha (Diamond FC)
13. Austine Oladapo (FC IfeanyiUbah)
14. Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC)
15. Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)
16. Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)
17. Godspower Effiong (Kano Pillars)
18. Ifeanyi Mathew (El -Kanemi Warriors)
19. Bright Onyeadikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah)
20. Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)
21. Mustapha Abdullahi (Sportlight FC)
22. Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United)
23. Zaradeen Bello (Kano Pillars)
24. Ahamefule Chizoba
25. Seun Olulayo (Sunshine Stars)
26. Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United)
27. Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves)
28. Kingsley Eduwo (Sunshine Stars)
29. Abubakar Aliyu
30. Anaezemba Nzube (Enyimba FC)
31. Charles Chukwudi (Plateau United)
32. Daniel Enmanson (Akwa United)
33. Ibrahim Alhassan (Hearts FC)
34. Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors)
35. Adebayo Ajadi (36 Lions)
