Coach Samson Siasia has said no player is certain of a place in Nigeria U23 squad for the Rio Olympics.
The Dream Team VI qualified for the global sports showpiece having emerged as African champions at the Caf U23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
Despite the burden of selecting his provisional squad for the men’s football event, he disclosed that only the best players will be picked to represent the country as he targets the Olympics gold medal.
“Any of them selected will now be added to the players who made us proud in Senegal for a full camping,” Siasia told the NFF website.
“Mind you, no player is yet guaranteed a shirt in the team, as I have always said only the best legs will make it to Rio de Janeiro.
“Since we qualified for the football event of the Rio Olympics, a lot of players both at home and abroad have been calling me that they want to play for the country, so myself and my assistants intend to use the first week of camping to see these players who will bear the cost of their trip to the camp and accommodate themselves.
“For now, time is not on our hands and as such, we need to start work in a bid to present a team that will make Nigerians proud in Brazil. For me, after winning silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, my next target is to go all out for gold in Rio, and I strongly believe we have the players that can achieve this.”
He also intends to make use of all the Fifa free days for friendlies that would help him and his technical crew monitor invited players very closely.
“For now my plans are to utilize fully all the Fifa windows beginning with the one in March, with the hope of taking players selected to an accessible country in Europe where all the overseas -based players can come with ease, play one or two friendly games and then have them return to their respective clubsides,” he concluded.
Goal.com
