Rio Olympics: Siasia picks Mikel, Akpeyi, drops Awoniyi

Nigeria Under-23 Eagles coach Samson Siasia has picked Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi and Chippa United keeper, Daniel Akpeyi while dropping kid sensation, Taiwo Awoniyi in his 18-man football squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Nigeria are grouped alongside Japan, Colombia and Sweden in the group stage of the football event of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Mikel and Akpeyi are taking the spots of the three over-aged players allowed in the competition.

Team captain Azubuike Okechukwu made the cut and so did Usman Mohammed, Sincere Seth and Junior Ajayi.

AS Roma’s Sadiq Umar, William Troost-Ekong and Kingsley Madu are the newbies in the team, while there is a shock omission for Taiwo Awoniyi, who was only named as an alternative player alongside goalkeeper Mohammed Yusuf, Stanley Dimgba and Godwin Saviour.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Emmanuel Daniel

Defenders: Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong, Saturday Erimuya, Kingsley Madu, Shehu Abdullahi, Ndifreke Udo Effiong, Stanley Amuzie

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Okechukwu Azubuike, Usman Mohammed, Saliu Popoola

Strikers: Junior Ajayi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Aminu Umar, Sadiq Umar, Imoh Ezekiel

Stand-by: Stanley Dimgba, Godwin Saviour, Yusuf Bala, Awoniyi Taiwo

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