Speaking after the team's training session at the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium, Coach Siasia said he does not want to make the mistake of the past when players
who had been penciled down by the coaching crew were not available when needed.“I want to work with only the players on ground, and to get them to the shape I want,” Siasia reiterated.
On the issue of other teams in Nigeria’s Group B already announcing plans to include very experienced over-aged players, the U-23 gaffer said the technical crew and the players are not scared of any individual player, but would rather bother about the quality of opposition at the Olympics’ football event.
Coach Siasia also confirmed that he has sent a provisional list of 60 players for the Games. According to him, “if your name is not on that list, then no Olympics for you. That's why we put
as many names as we can, we don't know the Europe -based players whose clubs would release for the Games.”
The U-23 coach said he smiled and stood near Brazil coach, Dunga after the draws at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro: “I told myself this is the man I would be playing against in the Final Match!”
