Nigeria Content Online

The Nigerian U-23
team will be leaving Nigeria tomorrow for Malabo for the second leg of
the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifying match against Equatorial
Guinea.

The team comprising
six foreign-based players and 14 local players would see action for
Nigeria in Malabo this weekend, as they hope to repeat the form that
saw them wallop the Guineans 5-0 in Benin City recently.

Leading the pack
would be PSV Eindhoven’s midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim. Also in the line-up
are goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye, Ibok Edet, Michael Essang, Arinze Ikenna
and Uchechi Daniel. From the local scene, Ofem Inah, Emmanuel Anyanwu,
Otekpa Emergi, Femi Thomas, Udoh Kingsley and Salami Gbolahan are in
the squad. Others include Mba Chimeze, Ayo Saka, Theophilus Afelukan,
Usman Amoda, Madubuchi Josiah, Reuben Gabriel, Osas Okoro and Ekigho
Ehiosun.

Absent from the team are captain Lukman Haruna and Uchebo Okechukwu.

Chief coach, Austin Eguavoen explains why:

“Uchebo would have
been here for the Malabo game but he could not get a connecting flight,
so we have decided to leave him out for the game against Equatorial
Guinea but he will be available for the game in Monrovia”.

“For the team
captain, Haruna Lukman, he was eager to come for the game but his club
needed him for this weekend’s game against Lille in the French League”.
Eguavoen added.

Eguavoen has
expressed his confidence in the crop of players that has been
assembled, maintaining that they have what it takes to bring about the
desired result.

“We are going with
a 5-0 win from the first leg and I believe we will get nothing less
than victory in Malabo but the worst case scenario will be a draw,”
concludes Eguavoen.

The U-23 team, nicknamed Dream Team V would fly out to the
Equatorial Guinean capital on Friday ahead of the Sunday’s return leg
match. They will be travelling through Cotonou, Benin Republic to
arrive Malabo in the early evening.