Samson Siasia releases list of 21 players for U-23 Nations Cup

Head coach Samson Siasia has named four foreign-based players in his 21-man squad for the Under-23 African Cup of Nations in Senegal.

The top three from the tournament will qualify for next year’s Rio Olympics.

The event kicks off on 28 November and will be played in Dakar and M’bour with the final set for 12 December.

Victor Osimhen, top scorer at last month’s Under-17 World Cup which Nigeria won, attended training in The Gambia but is not on the final list.

Siasia has included Taiwo Awoniyi, who is on loan from Liverpool to German side FSV Frankfurt.

Granada’s Isaac Success, who like Awoniyi was part of the squad that won the under-17 title in 2013 will also play in Senegal.

Twelve players from the squad that won a bronze medal at this year’s All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville, including Erhun Obanor, Kingsley Sokari, Etor Daniel and Mustapha Abdullahi, are axed from the list of selected players.

Nigeria boast a proud Olympics football record, having won gold medals at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

They also finished runners-up at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where current under-23 coach Siasia also coached the ‘Dream Team’ in China.


Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)

Defenders: Zaharadeen Bello (Kano Pillars), Seun Olubayo (Sunshine Stars), Chizoba Amaefule (Dolphins), Ebuka Iroha (Diamond Football Academy), Sincere Seth (Supreme Court FC), Seun Oduduwa (Nath Boys)

Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Godspower Aniefiok (Kano Pillars), Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors), Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba),Tiongoli Tobara (Bayelsa United), Bature Yaro (Nasarawa United), Oghenekaro Etebo, Stanley Dimgba (both Warri Wolves)

Forward: Taiwo Awoniyi (FSV Frankfurt, Germany), Isaac Success (Granada CF, Spain), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves)