Ghana force Nigeria to re-jig U23 side

Published on: 12 July 2011

Nigeria's All Africa Games exit at the hands of Ghana has forced the Football Federation to shuffle its Under-23 side ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games eliminators.

The Dream Team V were second best at the Baba Yara Stadium and got dumped on the away goal rule after winning the first leg 3-1 in Benin City.

NFF president Aminu Maigari says Austin Eguavoen's side will be re-jigged ahead of an eight-nation tournament that will determine Africa's representatives at next year's Summer Olympics in London.

''This is very sad because we made all the efforts to ensure the team’s qualification and gave the technical crew free hand. Yes, we have to look ahead, but we must identify the challenges the team faces now in order to be able to march ahead positively.''

New faces like Al Ittihad of Libya’s Izu Azuka, new Bundesliga boy Anthony Ujah and Samson Siasia’s recommendees Olumide Durojaiye and Chuks Aneke are being touted.

Nigeria will face countries are Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Egypt in the tournament.

In 2007, the Dream Team IV coached by Samson Siasia drew 0-0 with the Meteors in Sunyani and was then forced to a 1-1 draw in Abuja to bow out to the Ghanaians at the last hurdle.

But Siasia and boys went on to win the Olympics silver in Beijing the following year.

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