Akpeyi, Mikel Leads Siasia’s 22 Man Squad to Rio Olympic Games [Nigeria U23 National Team]

Nigeria U-23s coach Samson Siasia has forwarded 22 names to FIFA as the country’s representatives for the Rio 2016 Olympics men’s football event.

Among the 22, 18 are in the squad proper, while the other 4 are alternate players.

Leading the squad is Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi, who is not in camp with the team at the moment. Mikel is in Austria with Chelsea as they undergo pre-season training.

Mikel, 29, is one of the overage players in the squad, along with goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, 30. The other overage player initially selected for the Games, Odion Ighalo, is not available for selection.

The other notable absentees in the squad are Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, Watford’s Isaac Success and Chelsea’s Kenneth Omeruo who were either not released or sorting contract issues with their clubs.

Taiwo Awoniyi, who has been with the U-23s since Siasia took over the team, could not make the main list.

Report from the team’s Atlanta camp revealed that Awoniyi has struggle with his form all through… The Liverpool striker is on the alternate list.

Super Eagles players William Ekong, Oghenekaro Etebo, Abdullahi Shehu and Stanley Amuzie, all U-23, are in the main squad.
Nigeria will face Japan, Sweden and Colombia at the group phase of the Games.

The squad plus shirt numbers, positions, dates of birth

• 1 Daniel AKPEYI, Goalkeeper, March 8, 1986

• 2 Muenfuh SINCERE, Defender, April 28, 1998

• 3 Kingsley MADU, Defender, December 12, 1995

• 4 Abdullahi SHEHU, Defender, March 12, 1993

• 5 Saturday ERIMUYA, Defender, January 10, 1998

• 6 William EKONG, Defender, September 1, 1993

• 7 Aminu UMAR, Forward, March 6, 1995

• 8 Oghenekaro ETEBO, Midfielder, November 9, 1995

• 9 Imoh EZEKIEL, Forward, October 24, 1993

• 10 John Obi MIKEL, Midfielder, April 22, 1987

• 11 Oluwafemi AJAYI, Forward, January29, 1996

• 12 Popoola SALIU, Midfielder, August 7, 1994

• 13 Sadiq UMAR, Forward, February 2, 1997

• 14 Okechukwu  AZUBUIKE, Midfielder, April 19, 1997

• 15 Ndifreke UDO, Defender  August 15, 1998

• 16 Stanley AMUZIE, Defender, February 28, 1996

• 17 Usman MUHAMMED, Midfielder, June 12, 1980

• 18 Emmanuel DANIEL, Goalkeeper, December 17 1993

ALTERNATE PLAYERS

• 19 Sopuruchi DIMGBA, Forward,  March 19, 1993

• 20 Taiwo AWONIYI,   Forward,  August 12, 1997

• 21 Saviour GODWIN,  Forward, August 22, 1996

• 22 Yusuf BALA, Goalkeeper,  Decembe22, 1996