Siasia Includes Six Foreign Pros for Korea Tournament
Nigeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia is expected to include at least six foreign-based players when they travel to the South Korea 4 Nation Tournament that will serve as a preparatory ground for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Hosts South Korea, Denmark and Honduras - all teams that have qualified for the Men’s Football Tournament of Rio 2016 - will play in the tournament.
Siasia has invited Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who is on loan at FSV Frankfurt in Germany, Anderlecht’s Imoh Ezekiel, FC Sfaxien’s Oluwafemi Ajayi Junior, Sodiq Popoola of Belgian second side Seraing United, Clube Desportivo Nacional midfielder Usman Muhammed and team captain Azubuike Okechukwu of Malatyaspor in Turkey.
Shortly after leading the Dream Team VI to win the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal, Siasia vowed to expose the team to international tournaments to prepare very well for the Olympics.
Firstly the team was supposed to replace the Flying Eagles in the Toulon 8-Nation Tournament but lack of funds stalled their participation since the NFF couldn’t raise the $80,000 fee to be eligible to compete.