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Monday, 30 November 2015

Senegal 2015: Siasia targets Olympics return with u-23 team


When Samson Siasia led the national U-23 team to win a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, it earned him promotion to
coach the senior national side, the Super Eagles.
Siasia’s ex-national teammate Austin Eguavoen was saddled with the task of steering the U-23 team to the 2012 Olympics but his side failed to advance from the African qualifiers’— then known as the CAF U-23 Championship — group stage, and thus failed to qualify for the men’s football event in London.
In a twist of fate, Siasia also failed to help the Eagles qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, was given the sack in 2011 by the Nigeria Football Federation and then reassigned to the U-23 team.
Now the Bayelsa State-born coach has a huge task on his hands — of trying to help Nigeria return to the Olympic Games men’s football event for a seventh time — when the U-23 team play Mali on Sunday at the Stade Caroline Faye, M’Bour, in their opening match of Senegal 2015 U-23 African Cup of Nations, which serves as qualifiers for Rio 2016.
The competition, which began on Saturday ends on December 12, with the top three teams of the tournament qualifying for the 2016 Olympics men’s football tournament in Brazil as Africa’s representatives.
The Nigerians will play Egypt next in Group B on December 2 in M’Bour, before their final group game against Algeria at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar.
Group A comprises hosts Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zambia.
The U-23 team qualified for the final tournament after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Congo in August. Siasia’s team won the first leg 2-1 and held the Congolese in a pulsating goalless affair in the reverse fixture in Pointe Noire.
But at the All Africa Games in Congo, Siasia’s team were only able to win a bronze medal, despite being tipped as favourites for the gold.
They settled for the consolatory bronze after a shock 3-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the semi-finals.
The Nigerians battled hosts Congo in a tough third-place encounter that ended 0-0 but they held their nerves in the ensuing penalty kicks to triumph 5-3 and deny the Congolese the coveted bronze medal.
Siasia and his wards were meant to camp in Morocco ahead of the tournament but a delay in the issuance of visas to members of the team, meant the squad had to camp in Banjul, Gambia.
Nigeria’s delegation of 21 players and 10 officials was the last to arrive in Senegal. They arrived at the Leopold Senghor International Airport in Dakar at 1am (local time) aboard an Arik Airline flight from Banjul and were received by the Head of Chancery, Embassy of Nigeria, Haruna Musa.
The team left by road to M’Bour and arrived at the Framissima Palm Beach, their hotel, at 3am (local time).
Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Granada forward Isaac Success were not released by their clubs for the tournament but Siasia is happy that captain Azubuike Okechukwu, Germany-based Taiwo Awoniyi and Tunisia-based Junior Ajayi made the cut despite playing overseas.
“I and the rest of the coaches and the players have resolved to do anything humanly possible to win the competition and pick one of the tickets for next year’s Olympics in Brazil,” Siasia said.
Also in the squad is 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and top scorer, Victor Osimhen — who replaced Success. Sincere Seth and Seun Oduduwa are others in the team while Sunshine Stars’ Prince Aggreh and Enyimba’s Daniel Etor and Kingsley Sokari were dropped.
FSV Frankfurt striker Awoniyi says it’s time for business, adding that the squad is in Senegal to clinch one of Africa’s tickets for the Olympics.
The 18-year-old said, “This is work time; qualifying for the Rio Olympics is non-negotiable as we have no excuse to give Nigerians. That’s why we have to put in our best to get something out of Senegal.”
A big setback for the team, was the kidnap of Siasia’s mother, while the team were camped in Gambia. Despite pleas from the coach and his family, the abductors have refused to let go of the 72-year-old woman, insisting on a N20m ransom.
Former Nigeria midfielder Etim Esin said the coach might find it hard concentrating on his job, while his mother had been kidnapped.
“I hope that they release Sammy’s mother so that he can do his job properly. You cannot kidnap my mother and expect me to do a good job. I pray it doesn’t affect him. Outside that, Siasia has what it takes having taken the team to the final of the 2008 Olympics. I believe he can do it again,” Etim, Siasia’s teammate at Flash Flamingoes and Belgian club Lokeren, said.
But Siasia’s brother, Dennis, said he had told the coach not to let the issue distract him despite the neglect of the family by the Bayelsa State Government and the Nigeria Football Federation.
“I’ve told him (Samson) to concentrate on his job even though nobody from Bayelsa government or the NFF has paid us a visit or even called us on phone,” Dennis said.
Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup star Justice Christopher admitted that Nigeria are in a tough group but expressed optimism in the team’s ability to advance to the semi-finals of the competition.
“When you are in the same group with Mali, Egypt and Algeria, then you know you are not in an easy group but I’m happy that this is age-grade competition, where we have a lot of talents. If it was the Super Eagles that were pitted against these teams, I wouldn’t have been able to vouch for them,” the former Flying Eagles captain said.
“I’m happy that they have some U-20 players and an U-17 player in the squad. Unlike our senior team where there is no commitment, these youngsters are very committed. I’m glad that a player like Osimhen made the team, it’s a good sign and I believe he will make good use of the opportunity.
“I wish the team well but they need help from the federation. The officials should encourage these young players, so that they bring back Nigeria’s lost glory.”
Etim said the non-release of Iheanacho and Success would not affect the team, adding that rather, it would give a young player like Osimhen the opportunity to excel in Senegal.
The former Belgium-based ex-player said, “If both players (Iheanacho and Success) were in the team, Osimhen would not have been invited. If he gets his chance, he will take it, It’s about giving him the opportunity.
“You don’t have to put him (Osimhen) under pressure by starting him, he can come in from the bench and gain some confidence. But if the coach deems him fit to start, then good for him.
“That’s how Messi started. We don’t need to keep players who excel at U-17 level for too long before promoting them to the senior team. Where is Chrisantus Macauley and the rest today? We have to start making use of our best young players now. I wish Sammy and his team well.”
This year’s tournament was initially scheduled to take place in DR Congo between December 5 and 19 but CAF changed the hosts and requested Senegal to host the tournament instead, while the tournament dates were also changed.
Nigeria is Africa’s most successful nation in the football event of the Olympic Games, having won a gold medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and silver in Beijing 12 years later. And qualification for Rio 2016 would hand Siasia and his team the opportunity to further enhance their record in Brazil.

Punch..

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