U-23 Eagles Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has stated that the team is not scared of facing top stars like PSG’s Zlantan Ibrahimovic, Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado, Arsenal’s David Ospina and Real Madrid’s James Rodríguez at the group stage of the football event of the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Nigeria has been grouped alongside Sweden, Japan and Sweden at the Olympics with the Swedish coach indicating interest in featuring Ibrahimovic at the tournament while Columbia coach is planning to include the trio of Cuadrado, Ospina and Rodriguez in their squad for the games.
Siasia speaking through the team’s media officer, Timi Ebikagboro, said Nigeria remained a threat to any team in the group. “Its good most of the coaches are making efforts to get their best players to represent their countries but Nigeria is not scared of any individual player or group of players.
“We respect players like Zlatan, Ospina, Cuadrado and James but we are not scared of them. If we are scared of top players, then Nigeria has no business going to the Olympics. It’s a tough group no doubt but we have what it takes to qualify from the group. He added that Nigeria may not have top superstars but can boast of young and talented players in the team.
“Coach Samson Siasia has been clamouring, preparation is key to the success of the team. We have a pool of young talented players scattered all over the world but our biggest challenge is getting them to be available for our matches’ especially the test matches. “The coaching crew is working hard to finalise on the players to be listed in the provincial squad to be sent to FIFA.
The list will be ready soon. Securing players from their European clubs has been the bane of the U-23 Eagles, a factor that led to Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.
“One of our players, Ubong Ekpai, is already in an imbroglio with his club over transfer issue. We have most of the local players, that the team is being built upon, already making moves to sign professional contracts abroad.”
Ebikagboro further said, “The NFF is making frantic efforts to secure friendly matches for the team. Just recently, the NFF facilitated a friendly with Brazil which has given us an insight on South American football. We hope to play friendly matches Asian and European countries before the Olympics.
Also, the Toulon Tournament in France will also afford us the opportunity to test some players and prepare adequately.”
