Nigeria’s U-23 team leaves for Suwon tourney, to camp in U.S.

The Nigeria U-23 squad will begin its final preparations for the men’s football tournament of this year’s Olympics today, when the delegation departs for South Korea, where they will feature in the Suwon invitational tournament.

Led by Samson Siasia, who also steered Nigeria’s last squad at the men’s football tournament of the Olympics (Beijing 2008) to runner –up spot, the African champions have self –belief they are good enough for gold in Rio de Janeiro in August.

“Not many people gave us a chance going to the African finals in Senegal. We love it that way because so much focus is on the other teams and we are able to concentrate on devising our own strategies.

“The last time I took the U-23 to the Olympics, we won silver. This time, we will aim for gold,” said Siasia.

Siasia has picked captain Azubuike Okechukwu, goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, defenders Stanley Amuzie and Segun Oduduwa, midfielders Usman Mohammed and Stanley Dimgba, forwards Taiwo Awoniyi and Saviour Godwin and 12 others for the invitional tournament. The list is made up of 12 home –based and eight overseas –based professionals.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), after the tournament in Korea, the team will train in Manchester, United Kingdom before heading to Atlanta, United States of America, from where it will travel to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics.

Atlanta, USA was the setting for Nigeria’s triumph at the men’s football tournament of the Olympics in 1996 – a first for an African country.