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Tag: Siasia

  • Siasia to Dream Team: Go for the kill against Congo

    Siasia to Dream Team: Go for the kill against Congo

    Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia has said his wards will be going for an outright win against Congo in Sunday’s 2016 men’s Olympic football qualifier.

    Nigeria’s Dream Team VI beat Congo 2-1 in the first leg 2-1 in Port Harcourt on July 19 and will progress to the next round of qualifying if they avoid defeat in Pointe-Noire on August 2.

    Despite having a lead to protect at Stade Municipal, Siasia will not be adopting a cautious approach on Sunday.

    “We will play with intelligence but the mind-set will not be playing not to lose but playing to win  instead. We will be going for an outright win,” Siasia told supersport.com.

    Nigeria dominated the first leg but managed a slim win and the Nigeria trainer hopes his charges are more clinical in the return fixture.

    “We had so many chances in the first leg while (Congo) had maybe two or three in the entire game. It’s a pity that we did not take our chances. We had chances to score lots of goals. (In the second leg), we would not want to make the same mistakes again.

    “We have been working very hard in training this week to improve our goal scoring in front of goal and hopefully, the result will be better this time,” he said.

    Siasia has reinforced his squad with Enyimba midfielder, Kingsley Sokari who missed out on the first leg.

    The winner of the tie will qualify for the 2015 CAF U-23 championship in Senegal. It will take place between November 28 and December 12 and will comprise  eight countries.

    The tournament acts as qualification to the 2016 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament for the CAF, with the top three teams qualifying.

  • Siasia sends SOS to Sokari, 4 others

    Siasia sends SOS to Sokari, 4 others

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, has called-up five players to beef up his squad of the crucial 2nd leg African Under-23 Championship qualifier against Congo in the first week of August.

    The Olympic National Team have their back against the wall after managing a slender 2-1 win against the opponents last Sunday.

    Esperance new signing Kingsley Sokari has returned to the squad, having missed the first leg after he returned late from Tunisia, where he went to formalise terms with the Tunisian side.

    Osmanlispor forward Umar Aminu has also been invited alongside Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira), Semiu Liadi (Warri Wolves) and Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors).

    The invited home-based players are to report to the Nigeria U-23s Port Harcourt camp immediately while the overseas-based contingent are expected this weekend.

  • Siasia targets 4-0 win over Congo

    Siasia targets 4-0 win over Congo

    • Gets Umar Aminu boost 

    Nigeria’s U23 team coach Samson Siasia has predicted a convincing 4-0 home win over Congo on Sunday when they clash in the first leg of a CAF U23 Championship qualifier in Port Harcourt.

    ‘SiaOne’, as he is fondly called, said his team, nicknamed Dream Team VI, is fully prepared for victory as it takes another step towards featuring at next year’s Olympics in Rio Janeiro, Brazil.

    “We have been preparing hard for the game and I am sure we are going to win the game convincingly, I am looking at us getting like a 4-0 win, but victory is what we will play for,” said Siasia.

    “We are making efforts to get their match tapes to know them better.

    “The boys are in high spirits and ready for the task.”

    Siasia will be without several of his foreign-based call-ups, like Musa Mohammed, Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, but Turkey-based forward Umar Aminu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Godwin Saviour will be available for selection.

    The effective combination of Awoniyi and Saviour was evident at last month’s FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand after they had also combined to eliminate Zambia in a 2015 All Africa Games qualifier.

    However, Congo coach Claude Leroy is equally bullish ahead of this showdown after they eliminated highly-fancied Ghana in the previous round of the qualifiers.

    “We have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Olympics. There is no reason why we should fear them,” said the much travelled Frenchman, who last year led Congo full international team to shock the Super Eagles 3-2 in a 2015 AFCON qualifier.

    Congo has invited a dozen foreign pros and will parade several full internationals including goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, who was outstanding at this year’s AFCON as the Congo Red Devils reached the last eight in Equatorial Guinea.

    The CAF U23 Championship will be staged by Senegal later this year and will serve as the qualifier for the 2016 Olympic football event.

    However, Siasia has received a massive boost with the arrival of Turkey-based striker Umar Aminu for Sunday’s CAF U23 Championship qualifier against Congo in Port Harcourt.

    “Aminu has joined the team after he was released by his club from their pre-season training. It’s a bit late, but we will see how it goes,” Siasia disclosed.

    Aminu was stand-out star for Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey after he emerged Goal King at the 2013 AYC in Algeria and he is now playing regularly in Turkey for Osmanlispor after a stint at Samsunspor.

    Siasia will be without several Europe-based call-ups like Musa Mohammed, Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho as they are engaged in pre-season with their clubs.

    Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari is also ruled out after reporting late to training camp on account of his transfer talks in Tunisia with Esperance.

    Siasia is therefore expected to stick with the core of the team who eliminated Gabon and Zambia from the 2015 All Africa Games.

  • Siasia tackles fatigue, finishing

    • Congolese team arrives, eyes upset against Nigeria

    Ahead of Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Coach Samson Siasia at the evening training yesterday focused on fatigue and finishing.

    Siasia had earlier complained of poor finishing of his boys.

    The training which lasted about two hours  was witnessed by the State Governor, Barrister Wike Nyesom.

    Speaking to sports journalists inside the main bowl of Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium, the media officer of the team , Timi Ebikagboro said the boys are ready to unleash terror on the Congolese come on Sunday .

    Timi said though the Congolese Coach had boasted to collect the three maximum points, he, however reminded the coach that Coach Samson Siasia beat the team in Congo before and Sunday match will not be taken lightly.

    However ,  the Congolese team arrived Porthartcourt international Airport at 3:5pm and headed straight to the presidential hotel where they are lodged.

    The team is expected to train at the Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium today (Saturday ).

    Meanwhile , total renovations is currently going on at the stadium with men putting finishing touches at the sitting and the stadium surroundings .

    However, Le Roy says he is confident his Under-23 team have what it takes to upset their Nigeria counterparts, when both teams clash in an Olympics 2016 qualifiers this weekend in Porthacourt.

    Le Roy who lead Congo senior national team last year to inflict a first ever home loss on Nigeria, in an Africa nations cup qualifer which went a long way in denying Nigeria a chance to defend her 2013 crown, at the tournament proper is confident his Under-23 team are capable of doing same.

    “We are in an identical position to last year with no one beyond Congo giving us a chance,” Le Roy said during a training camp in Atlantic City Pointe-Noire.

    “But my team have a huge chance of not only eliminating Nigeria, but qualifying for the Rio Olympics, there is no reason why we should fear Nigeria.

    “Congolese football has made tremendous progress recently and we must maintain that improvement.”

    The 67 year old can call on four of his senior squad for the third-round, first-leg clash – goalkeepers Christoffer Mafoumbi and Pavelh Ndzila, defender Sagesse Babele and striker Sylvere Ganvoula.

    Siasia has expressed confidence that his team will overcome their Congolese counterparts in Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Sunday.

    Siasia, who led the Class of 2008 to runner-up position at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, said this in a chat with the media at the Hotel Presidential abode of the team.

    “I am very confident that Nigerians who will troop out en masse to see our match on Sunday will see one of the best displays ever by the Dream Team.

    “As a team, my boys have always created chances, but our greatest problem has been to convert these chances to goals. We have been doing a lot of work in this critical area and if what I have seen in training of recent is anything to go by, then I can assure Nigerians that these boys will make them proud by scoring enough goals against the Congolese come Sunday.”

    On the issue of the non-availability of most of the overseas-based professionals he invited for the game,Coach Siasia said neither himself nor the NFF has been taken unawares, as the match is only a qualifier for a continental competition and not on the FIFA calendar.

  • U-23 Championship: Siasia Focuses on fatigue, finishing

    U-23 Championship: Siasia Focuses on fatigue, finishing

    Ahead of the Sunday’s African U-23 Championship final round, first leg qualifier at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Coach Samson Siasia at the evening training on Friday focused on fatigue and finishing.

    Siasia had earlier complained of poor finishing of his boys.

    The training which lasted about two hours was witnessed by the State Governor, Barrister Wike Nyesom.

    Speaking to sports journalists inside the main bowl of Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium, the media officer of the team, Timi Ebikagboro said the boys are ready to unleash terror on the Congolese come on Sunday.

    Timi said though the Congolese Coach had boasted to collect the three maximum points, he however reminded the coach that Coach Samson Siasia had beaten the team in Congo before and Sunday match will not be taking likely.

    However, the Congolese team arrived the Porthartcourt international Airport at 3:5pm and headed straight to the presidential hotel where they are lodged.

    The team is expected to train at the Adokiye Amiesemaka stadium Saturday.

    Meanwhile, total renovation is currently ongoing at the stadium with men putting finishing touches at the sitting and the stadium surroundings.

     

  • Siasia commends NFF for hiring ex- internationals

    Siasia commends NFF for hiring ex- internationals

    The National Under-23 Team Coach, Samson Siasia, has commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for hiring ex-internationals to coach the Super Eagles.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF was in talks with former Super Eagles’ captain, Sunday Oliseh, to coach the senior national team.

    Siasia told sports journalists on Saturday in Port Harcourt, that it was a good development for the growth of the game in the country and for ex-internationals with interest and experience in coaching.

    According to Siasia, Oliseh is good, I just wish him the best of luck and hopefully he would succeed.

    “He should know how this terrain is, we have been there for awhile, he has been in Europe, I pray for him to cope, and you know it is not easy,’’ he said.

    Siasia said the U-23 team was well prepared to take on Congo on July 19 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

    He called on Port Harcourt fans to “come out in their numbers to support the team.”

  • I don’t care if Congo parades 11 pros- Siasia

    I don’t care if Congo parades 11 pros- Siasia

    Dream Team VI handler, Samson Siasia has said that his team won’t be jittery confronting all foreign based Congo’s first eleven in the first leg of the final round of CAF U-23 Championship qualifier against visiting Claude Leroy’s Congo slated for Port-Harcourt on July 19.

    Congo coach Claude Leroy on Wednesday announced a 23-man squad dominated by 11 overseas professionals for the match, but the former Super Eagles’ Chief Coach told SportingLife that it is not an array of individual stars that win a football match but playing as a team.

    “We are not afraid of the Congolese team. we know that parading foreign based stars does not guarantee victory but playing as a team. But can they play as a team? That is what brings result. We also have some foreign based stars in our team but what we are focusing on is for them to play as a team.

    “The advantage we will have over Congo is that the players we have here, including the few foreign based guys have been playing together for some time now and have blended together. They have understanding on how we want them to play as a team, so that is the edge I think we would have over Congo.

    “It is not about the number of foreign based players in a team. I am confident that we have a team who can play as a united team and win.” Siasia assured.

  • Siasia picks 25 for Congo clash

    Siasia picks 25 for Congo clash

    Olympic Team Head coach, Samson Siasia, has picked 25 players for the African Under-23 championship final round, first leg qualifying clash against Congo’s Red Devils.

    Siasia said the selected players will be joined by four overseas-based professionals – Imoh Ezekiel, Aminu Umar, Sodiq Popoola and Gabriel Abalo for the final phase of preparations for the crucial game billed for the Adokiye Amiesiemaka Stadium, Port-Harcourt, on July 19.

    The former Super Eagles manager urged the dropped players to continue working hard in their respective clubs.

    “For those who did not make the cut, you do not have to be discouraged but to work even harder to keep yourselves among the pool of players that could be called up for future assignments as the team prepare for the return leg and the All Africa Games in Congo,” supersport.com quoted Siasia as saying on the Nigeria Football Federation official website.

    The selected players:

    Goalkeepers: Daniel Emmanuel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmason Daniel

    Defenders: Segun Oduduwa, Erhun Obanor, Iroha Ebuka, Amuzie Stanley, Chima Akas, Atanda Sadiq, Ikechukwu Okorie, Nnaemeka Uzoma

    Midfielders: Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Tiongoli Tonbara, Godwin Savior, Emeka Kenneth, Etor Daniel, Olisah Ndah, Eteobong Elisha, Oladapo Augustin, Musa Yahaya

    Strikers: Taiwo Awoniyi, Peter Onyekachi, Junior Ajayi, Etebo Oghenekaro.

  • Why I called-up ‘club-less’ Alampasu – Siasia

    Why I called-up ‘club-less’ Alampasu – Siasia

    The Chief Coach of the national U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has defended his invitation of Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, to the Dream Team VI in preparation for an All Africa Games Qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.

    Siasia, who was forced to respond after critics faulted the goalie’s call-up because he is club-less at the moment, told SportingLife in Abuja, yesterday, that he had faith in Alampasu’s ability.

    The Olympics silver medal-winning coach said Alampasu has had the quality of a good goalkeeper right from when he helped the Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2013 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He observed that it was this quality that won the goalie a place in the Flying Eagles team that campaigned in the last FIFA U- 20 World Cup in New Zealand.

    “Let me be very honest as regards the issue of Dele Alampasu,” Siasia began. “I invited him based on what I have seen as regards his goalkeeping qualities. These qualities Aloy Agu our goalkeeping coach has also attested to.

    “The issue of not having a club or Dele (Alampasu) not playing for a team now does not really matter to me. So far as he can prove himself in the training exercises we are doing and he is at the level we require, he will always be a part of the team.

    “I don’t know this guy (Alampasu) from anywhere other than watching him play at the 2013 FIFA U- 17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. After this he was also in Manu Garba’s team to the New Zealand FIFA U- 20 World Cup.”

    He continued: “The question I want to ask you guys is that, was he playing for a club side when he made the U- 20 squad for the World Cup? That is to show that Dele Alampasu has that quality in him that the coaches have seen to make the age-grade national teams. I should be seen not to kill his spirit but to encourage him. So I need to give him a chance to fight for a shirt in the team like I have given to others and will still give.

    “So, it is important for me to help him complete the circle and also give him the opportunity to fight for shirts in the team. If Dele makes the regular squad, then it’s fine, if not somebody else will play in that position. Anybody that is close to me knows that when it comes to the national team’s selection of players I pick the players that will help me actualise my ambition and target for the team. No family affairs, no friendship in national team business, it’s strictly the best players that would make the squad and play”, Siasia explained.

    Siasia recently called to camp eight players from the squad that participated in the finals of the last FIFA U- 20 World Cup to join the Dream Team VI that is preparing for battle against Congo in the qualification series for the 2016 Olympics Football Tournament. The players include: Kelechi Iheanacho, Musa Yahaya, Moses Simon, Musa Muhammed, Dele Alampasu, Taiwo Awoniyi, Kingsley Sokari and Saviour Godwin.

  • Siasia invites Norway-based defender

    Siasia invites Norway-based defender

    Olympic Team coach, Samson Siasia, has invited Norway-based central defender, Sola Akinyemi, ahead of next month’s crucial CAF Championship qualifier against Congo.

    The Dream Team as the team is affectionately called hosts Congo to Abuja on July 18 in a first leg qualifier for the Olympic qualifier to be staged in Senegal in November, africanFootball.com reports.

    The 22-year-old Akinyemi has previously tried out with Flying Eagles prior to the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

    He is expected to shore the Olympic team defence which Siasia has admitted could be a lot better.

    Akinyemi is due in the team’s training camp in Abuja later this week.

    Dream