Rio: Mikel, Onazi, others must fight for shirts –Siasia

Head Coach of the Nigeria U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has insisted that top Super Eagles players such as John Obi Mikel and Ogenyi Onazi must fight for their shirts if they want to be included in the Rio Olympics final squad in Brazil.

Speaking after the team’s training session on Thursday at the practice pitch of the Abuja National Stadium, Siasia said there is no automatic shirt for any player while warning the home-based players to step up their game.

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“I guess that because Mikel missed out the last time, he wants to make up for it. Not only that, the last couple of games he has played for the Super Eagles, he has been playing very well, and if he wants to be part of the team, of course he is welcome, but as I said we have to look at the positions we really, really need people.

“We are not going to select players because they play for the Super Eagles or because they are still under the age bracket. They have to compete with those players who actually qualified the team for the Olympics.”

He added that any of the players invited from the domestic scene who fails to report to camp by Monday, 25th April should not bother coming to camp, as the technical crew will work with only players available to them and are willing to play at the Olympics.

“I want to work with only the players on ground, and to get them to the shape I want,” Siasia reiterated.

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