Siasia to lead Eagles against Iraq, Poland, Malaysia

Posted by admin Soccer, Sports Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

SUPER Eagles coach Samson Siasia will lead a largely home-based team to an invitational tournament in the United States of America. The competition, which is in honour of American President, Barack Obama, will take place from February 12-20 in the new year.

Organizers of the United States President’s Day celebration soccer invitational tournament, the Green Soccer Bowl, have confirmed Nigeria as one of the eight teams that will take part in the tourney.

The competition will take place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, venue of Nigeria’s first -ever FIFA World Cup finals match, which ended in a 3-0 whitewash of Bulgaria in June 1994.

Already, the draw for the tournament has been made with the Super Eagles pitched against Iraq, Poland and Malaysia in Group A, while Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya and Bahrain will play in Group B.

Ahead of the event, coach Siasia, who is presently spending the yuletide holidays with his family in America, will return to Nigeria in early January to start a camping programme for his home-based troops on January 10.

Three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and 12 strikers have been invited to the camp in Abuja. The goalkeepers are Bassey Akpan (Heartland FC), Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves) and Ogwu Chinedu (Kaduna United)

Defenders are: Nwabili Valentine (Enyimba FC), Chibuzor Okonkwo, Gege Soriola (Heartland FC), John Agbawu (Lobi Stars), Wasiu Sowemimo (Kano Pillars), Bartholomew Akakem (Ocean Boys), Kenneth Omeruo (Sunshine Stars), ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves).

The invited midfielders are: Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Julius Ubido (Heartland FC), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), ThankGod Amaefule (Sharks FC), Daniel Mendel, Cletus Itodo (Sunshine Stars), Uche Kalu (Enyimba).

The forwards are Gbolahan Salami (3SC), Osas Okoro (Heartland FC), Moses Ogaga, John Huan (Kano Pillars), Ekigho Ehiosun (Warri Wolves), Frederick Okpara, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers FC), Kabiru Waziri (Plateau United), Femi Balogun (Kaduna United), Lazarus Chukwu (Gombe United), Stanley Okoronkwo (Sharks FC), Abdul Jelil Ajagun (Dolphin FC). wp_posts