Sokari, Awoniyi in Under-23 Squad for the Battle of Congo

Head coach of the Nigeria Under-23 national team, Samson Siasia, has picked 20 players for Sunday’s crucial African U-23 Championship qualifier away to Congo.

The Dream Team VI flew out of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Thursday to Pointe-Noire, where they will engage their Congolese counterparts in a final qualifying match for this year’s Africa U-23 Championship.

Nigeria take a slim 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Port-Harcourt to Congo and need at least a draw to secure their place in the 8-team tournament, which also serves as qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympic Games.

“For those of you selected, this is a golden opportunity for you to show to Nigerians and the world that your first leg victory was not a flash in the pan, and as such you must fight hard when we get to Pointe Noire and beat the Congolese,” Siasia said while addressing the players after their last practice match, which they won 3-0.

The selected players are:

Daniel Emmanuel, Atanda Sodiq, Stanley Amuzie, Azubuike Okechukwu, Olusegun Oduduwa, Erhun Obanor, Godwin Saviour, Etebo Oghenekaro, Junior Ajayi, Usman Mohammed, Etor Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Chima Akas, Semiu Liadi, Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Sokari, Taiwo Awoniyi, Umar Aminu, Austin Oladapo and Sincere Seth.