Nigeria Content Online

The Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has selected 20 players
to represent Nigeria at the United States President’s Holiday Celebration
Soccer Tournament, otherwise known as the Green Bowl Soccer Tournament, which
takes place in Dallas, Texas this weekend.

The Super Eagles will participate in the tourney alongside Costa
Rica, Mexico and Panama.

On Thursday, the United States Embassy in Nigeria issued entry
visas to 22 players and eight officials of the Nigeria team for the competition
meant for domestic League players of the countries involved.

But notably missing are two players who are serving suspensions
for misconduct in Nigeria Premier League games. The players are Bassey Akpan, a
goalkeeper, who was the second choice for the Eagles for the last friendly
match against Sierra Leone and Shooting Stars striker, Gbolahan Salami.

Both players were recently slammed with one-year bans by the
Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation ‘for indiscipline and
appalling lack of self-control’.

Salami, leading scorer for Shooting Stars with four goals, had
to be restrained by several officials as he attempted to attack a referee,
Michael Oshei, after the official awarded a stoppage time penalty kick to Crown
FC, which enabled the Ogbomosho side secure a 1-1 draw.

Heartland goalkeeper, Akpan was fined N100, 000 and suspended
for pushing the referee during a game between Sunshine Stars and Heartland.

The squad

Super Eagles defender, Chibuzor Okonkwo, who impressed in last
week’s friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos is one of the 20 players who made
the trip. Okonkwo had won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics. Others
include, strikers Ejike Uzoenyi, Gambo Mohammed, Victor Ezeji, Joseph Thompson,
and Ekigho Ehiosun, who scored on his debut against Sierra Leone.

The players, along with the coaching crew will depart for the U.S. from the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Wednesday, February 23.