Rio 2016: Mikel, Ighalo, Iwobi Named In Olympic Squad

Nigeria national U-23 coach, Samson Siasia has named Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel, Watford striker Odion Ighalo and Chippa United’s Daniel Akpeyi as the over-age players to represent the country at this summer’s Olympic Games.

The Nigeria Football Federation on Friday released a 35-man squad to eventually end months of speculation on the identity of the over-aged players in the team as allowed by Fifa.

Despite concerns over their availability, Manchester City and Arsenal starlets Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi were also included.

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Çaykur Rizespor’s defender Godfrey Oboabona, who was expected to make the cut, missed out following club’s assertion of not releasing the player for the Olympics, which paved way for the re-call of Kenneth Omeruo who is eligible to play as an under-age.

The team is expected to begin final training in Atlanta United States next month, venue of Nigeria’s historic Olympic triumph in 1996.

According to coach Siasia, the chosen location is in order to “psychologically prepare the boys for victory in Brazil.”

The Dream Team VI will slug it out with Sweeden, Colombia and Japan in their group.

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