Olympics: Iheanacho, Ighalo, Iwobi in Nigeria provisional squad

NIGERIA'S Under-23 team head coach, Samson Siasia has named attacking trio of Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City, Odion Ighalo of Watford, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and 32 others in his provisional squad for the Pre-Olympic training tour in the United States of America.

The final list of 18 will be drawn from the 35-man squad before the team head off on their trip to Brazil.

The players who have had experience playing in the Nigerian senior team constitute half of those listed in the provisional squad.

Others include Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, South Africa –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders William Troost Ekong, Musa Muhammed, Stanley Amuzie, Kingsley Madu, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona, midfielders Oghenekaro Etebo, Okechukwu Azubuike, Imoh Ezekiel, Usman Mohammed and Abdullahi Shehu, and forward Aminu Umar are on the list.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had disclosed that the country’s Olympic team will depart the country next week for a final training camp in the United States of America ahead of this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Siasia opted for a final training camp in Atlanta, venue of Nigeria’s historic triumph 20 years ago, in order to “psychologically prepare my boys for victory in Brazil.”

NFF confirmed that there would be a friendly match between the Nigeria Olympic team and the U23 National Team of Mexico in Mexico on Saturday, July 02.

The match will take place at the Aguascalientes Stadium, home ground of newly promoted top tier club, Necaxa FC.

The NFF also announced that after the friendly, the Nigeria U23 squad will continue its training camp in the USA and will play Charleston Battery FC in Atlanta on Saturday, July 16. A game against the Honduras U23 team is also being planned for July 27.

FULL LIST:

Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa FC, South Africa), Yusuf Bala (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers), Taiwo Abdulrahman (Kwara United), Ndubuisi Agu (FC Porto, Portugal), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal), Taiwo Awoniyi (Frankfurt FC, Germany), Okechukwu Azubuike (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Etor Daniel (Enyimba FC), Augustine Dimgba (Sunshine Stars), William Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway), Saturday Erimuya (Kayseri Erciyespor, Turkey), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense FC, Portugal), Imoh Ezekiel (Anderlecht, Belgium), Saviour Godwin (Ostende, Belgium), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England), Emiloju Julius (MFM FC), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England), Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Usman Muhammed (CF Uniao, Portugal), Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium), Erhun Obanor (MFM FC), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea FC, England), Sodiq Saliu (Seraing FC, Belgium), Abdullahi Shehu (CF Uniao, Portugal), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium), Seth Sincere (Rhapsody FC), Ndifreke Udo (Abia Warriors), Aminu Umar (Osmalispor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (AS Roma, Italy)