Sports

Dream Team Vs Brazil: Siasia axes, Iroha, Olulayo; Nwobodo in

Published

9 years ago

March 7, 2016

*Also Mohammed, Oduduwa, Dimgba

The technical crew of the U-23 National Team, Dream Team, has dropped both Chukwuebuka Iroha and Oluwaseun ‎ Olulayo for not measuring up to the standard expected of them in camp since resumption of training programme.

The crew said it was disappointed with the level of fitness displayed by the duo that were part of the team that triumphed at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in December 2015, and warned that no player is guaranteed automatic shirt to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

In a related development, Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Samson Siasia has directed that three players, namely Segun Oduduwa, Usman Mohammed and Stanley Dimgba should no longer report to the Super Eagles camp.

In a bid to beef up the Dream Team, the technical crew has extended an invitation to Rangers of Enugu player Obinna Nwobodo, who is expected to report to camp immediately with the other Rangers players on Monday.

Siasia barred defender Oduduwa and midfielders Dimgba and Usman Mohammed from showing up at the Bolton White Apartments camp of the Super Eagles, after they reported late to the camp of the U-23 team without an earlier permission.

He stated that the affected players are no longer part of his plans for the Egypt game, so should concentrate on the friendly against Brazil with the Dream Team.

“We cannot have those three in camp anymore. This is very serious business, and only serious-minded persons can be involved. They reported late to the camp of the U-23 team, so they cannot be tolerated in the camp of the senior team.

“I have said it over the past few days that the right mentality would count big among the traits we are looking for in the players to feature against Egypt.”

All three players were in the U-23 squad that won the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in December 2015.

The Super Eagles’ new boss is known to be a disciplinarian. He threw out star midfielder Kingsley Sokari and talented forward Daniel Etor from his squad to the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations after the duo opted to play for their club, Enyimba FC, in a final NPFL season game in Lagos in November 2015, against his instructions.

The exclusion of the trio means only 40 players are now in contention for shirts in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations double date against Egypt, with 19 home boys to train for two weeks before the arrival of 21 overseas –based players on the week of the first game in Kaduna.

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