National U-23 Team coach Samson Siasia has warned the invited overseas-based players for the Suwon Invitational Tournament–which serves as part of the team’s preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games – to report to camp on Wednesday (today) or risk being dropped from the squad to the games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The ex-international, who gave the warning after the team’s training session on Monday at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Abuja, was unhappy that most of the overseas-based players were yet to report to the team’s camp despite having arrived Nigeria from their various bases.
“It is annoying that these boys have not placed the same importance I and other members of the technical crew have placed on the Olympics. I have information that aside one or two players who are involved in their team’s play-off games, the others have arrived the country but have just refused to report to camp,” Siasia told thenff.com.
Our correspondent learnt that the invited overseas-based players yet to report to camp are team captain Azubuike Okechukwu, Germany-based striker Taiwo Awoniyi, RFC Seraing midfielder Sodiq Popoola, KV Oostende forward Saviour Godwin, ex-England U-17, U-18 and U-20 winger Nathan Oduwa, Turkey-based duo Stanley Amuzie and Azubuike Okechukwu, and Clube Desportivo Nacional midfielder Usman Mohammed.
“If they don’t report to camp on time, how can I work on them to know their level of adaptability to my game plan? It’s frustrating sometimes. Except for Saturday Keigo, who reported to camp on Sunday, the others have not bothered to report,”Siasia, who led the U-23 team to a silver medal finish at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, added.
Meanwhile, the U-23 team will play a friendly game against a local club on Thursday, as part of their build-up for the Suwon Invitational Tournament.
