News Obiaks News

Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho and Liverpool’s teenage sensation Taiwo Awoniyi are among 16 overseas-based professionals that were called up by Coach Samson Siasia for next month’s Rio Olympics qualifiers in Senegal, a game that can go a long way to determine if Nigeria qualifies for the Olympic games or not. The game had Ben labelled as a crucial one for the dream team.

Other foreign professionals include Azubuike Okechukwu, Umar Aminu (Turkey), Junior Ajayi (Tunisia), Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi (Belgium), Dele Alampasu, Shehu Abdullahi, Stanley Amuzie (Portugal), Uche Ikpeazu, Solomon Otabor, Alex Iwobi (England), Paul Onauchu (Denmark), Isaac Success (Spain) and Kingsley Madu (Slovakia).
However, officials have not been forthcoming if they have received assurances from these European clubs they will release the players for the tournament especially as it is not on the FIFA international calendar.
Also called up were 35 players from the domestic league and they are led by experienced Enugu Rangers’ goal-tender Emmanuel Daniel, Abia Warriors defender Erhun Obanor, Warri Wolves attacking midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo and Enyimba midfield maestro Kingsley Sokari. The Africa U-23 Cup of Nations will be played in Senegal from November 28 to December 12.
In another news, Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh will miss this weekend’s African Nations Championship qualifier in Burkina Faso after he was forced to undergo treatment for an unspecified illness. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced Oliseh, 46, has flown back to Belgium, where he lives, to see doctors after his illness worsened on Thursday.
“Coach Oliseh will not be available for the match against Burkina Faso on Sunday, we will miss him,” said team spokesman Toyin Ibitoye. But we have very competent coaches to carry on and deliver for Nigeria. We will get the job done in Ouagadougou. We believe he will recover in time for when the World Cup training camp opens in Abuja early next month.”
The NFF did not specify the nature of his illness. Oliseh fell sick soon after two friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon in Belgium earlier this month. Oliseh was flown to Belgium for treatment on Thursday, after his health condition worsened. According to the NFF, the former national team captain became dizzy and weak after lunch and had to fly out from Port Harcourt.
He has told the team administrator, Dayo Enebi, to update him always via sms, adding that “I’m with the team in spirit so keep me updated. I have absolute confidence in the team even in my absence they will get the job done for Nigeria on Sunday.”
 
Sunday Oliseh
Oliseh had defied medical advice to return to Nigeria to prepare for the Super Eagles’ CHAN qualifier. The match is the return fixture for a place at next year’s finals in Rwanda. The CHAN is reserved for players based in their domestic leagues. Last week, Nigeria beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in the southern city of Port Harcourt Nigeria are also scheduled to take on Swaziland in a 2018 World Cup qualifier next month. The knockout matches are scheduled for between November 9 and 17.