Siasia names final 18 players for 2016 Olympics

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has named his 18-man squad for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Liverpool striker Taiwo Awoniyi and Godwin Saviour are two names that are conspicuously missing from the list.

The two players, along with Sunshine Stars winger, Stanley Dimgba and Kano Pillars goalkeeper, Yusuf Mohammed, have however been named as alternate players. Alternate players will replace injured or unavailable team-mates if the need arises. But they will not be accredited for the competition or have access to the official games village.

The two over-aged players in Siasia’s squad, are Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi and South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

Nigeria Rio Olympics 18-man final squad:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Emmanuel Daniel

Defenders: Sincere Seth, Kingsley Madu, Saturday Erimuya, William Troost-Ekong, Ndifreke Effiong, Stanley Amuzie

Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Popoola Sodiq, Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Shehu Abdullahi

Strikers: Umar Aminu, Imoh Ezekiel, Junior Ajayi, Sadiq Umar.

Alternate players:

Taiwo Awoniyi, Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Stanley Dimgba (Sunshine Stars) and Godwin Saviour