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Tag: Siasia

  • SIASIA REVEALS: Olympic Eagles’ defence shaky

    SIASIA REVEALS: Olympic Eagles’ defence shaky

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia has said he still has a lot of work to do on his defense if they are to get better as a team.

    The Nigerian U-23 team will host the Gabon U-23’s next weekend in Abuja, in a return leg of the 2015 All Africa Games qualifier, having already won 4-1 in Libreville last weekend.

    But Siasia says he and his assistants are not being carried away, saying they understand they must put in more effort to improve the team, especially the defense.

    “We know we still have a lot of work to do on the team especially in the defense. We have showed very good signs in all the games we have played but we the coaches know we are not at our best yet,” he told sl10.ng.

    “We need to improve the team as a whole, but we have to pay more attention to the defense because that is the department that I think we need more work on,” Siasia said.

    The 47-year old managed the Nigerian U23’s to a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics and after their impressive 4-1 win over Gabon, comparisons are already being made but Siasia says it isn’t the right time to compare.

    “I don’t think this is the right time to compare because this team is just about three months old,” he added.

  • Siasia needs balance in Dream Team

    Siasia needs balance in Dream Team

    Head coach of Nigeria’s Under-23 team, Samson Siasia has said he is not building his side around any individual as he prepares for this weekend’s All Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon in Libreville.

    Siasia has also warned the five overseas-based players called up for the game not to rest on their laurels as any dip in standard will see the affected individual instantly dropped.

    “There is no automatic shirt in this team. Anybody who does not work hard or meet our standards will be dropped immediately,” Siasia told supersport.com shortly after he named a squad of 21 players for the fixture with Gabon.

    The squad are comprised of 16 domestically based players and Siasia said the Nigerian league remains an important pool for the selection of prime talent.

    “You can see that there are a lot more players from the local scene. That’s because we want to give our league priority because we believe there are a lot of very good players from the league,” he said.

    Siasia’s list of 21 players raised more than a few eyebrows, especially as two players originally expected to make the list, Aminu Umar and Alhaji Gero were surprisingly dropped.

    Siasia revealed that Umar, in the books of Turkish club, Samsunspor, arrived late to camp which ultimately sounded the death knell for him.

    “I have never seen Aminu Umar play and there was no way I was going to take such a player to Gabon. He arrived the camp late so I couldn’t really watch him play,” Siasia said.

    Siasia is no stranger to coaching or success at this level.

    In 2008, he led the Nigeria under-23s to the final of the football event of the Olympics where the Dream Team lost to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina 1-0.

  • Siasia invites Arsenal’s Iwobi, 8 other foreign pros for Gabon

    Chief Coach of the national U-23 men’s football team, Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia has invited Arsenal’s teenage sensation Alex Iwobi and 8 other foreign-based professional players for the crucial first leg All Africa Games qualifying game against Gabon in Libreville.

    A statement from the team’s media officer, Timi Ebikagboro quotes coach Siasia as saying that the invited foreign-based players were selected from the screening exercise in December and November, while the likes of Imoh Ezekiel of Standard de Liege of Belgium and Japheth Okirie of Hadley FC, England were selected based on their club performance.

    Coach Siasia disclosed that 5 players from the home-based players in camp were dropped due to the fact that they could not meet up with the standard of the team, but assured that they could be recalled if they improve on their game. “For now we are expected to go to Gabon with 18 players, so only the best will make this team, there will be no automatic shirt for any body, as both the home based and their foreign counterparts will have to battle for the 18 slots,” Siasia said.

    Speaking further he said, “we have released all the home-based players whose clubs are involved in continental games this weekend, but they should all be back in camp by Monday, when hopefully all the foreign-based players invited would also have reported to camp, then we will raise the stake.”

    The invited foreign based players are: Gero Salisu Abdullahi, Iwobi Alexander Chuka, Atanda Sodiq Oluwole, Oshobe Oladele, Salisu Sadiq Popoola, Ezekiel Imoh, Paul Onwachi Ebere, Aminu Umar and Japheth Okirie.

    While the dropped home-based players are goalkeeper Isah Mas’ud, Effiong Emmanuel Etim, Godwin Odibo, Adetunji Sunday, and Yahaya Adamu.

  • Siasia: My boys played to instructions

    Siasia: My boys played to instructions

    Coach Samson Siasia has said his boys were able to
    beat thier Tunisian counterparts because they played to instructions, and have been able to settle down, knowing that they needed to win the game.

    In a post-match conference in Tunisia on Wednesday Siasia said: “The boys needed this game to boost their morale and confidence and they went all out for it, this victory will make them play harder and hopefully they will play more like a team.”

    For his part the Tunisian coach Nizar Khanfir said the Dream Team were the better side as they have settled down to play football, compared to what they played in the first leg.

    “My boys got carried away with the 3-5 victory of the Nigerians thinking they can beat them any time, but the better Nigerian team gave them some football lessons they won’t forget in a hurry.”

    The encounter was watched by the Tunisian Minister of Sports Sabeun Bouatti and the General Secretary of the Tunisia Football Association Wajdi Aoucedi.

    The Dream Team VI will depart for Nigeria today by 2.15pm aboard Emirates airline.

  • Siasia: we must show greater character in second match

    Siasia: we must show greater character in second match

    Head Coach Samson Siasia has charged his U-23 national team boys to show character and resilience when they take on the the U-23 national team of Tunisia in a second international friendly match in Tunis on Wednesday.

    “I don’t want to blame the players too much for the loss to the Tunisians in the first match on Saturday.

    Without appearing to be making excuses for them, we arrived in Tunis on Friday afternoon and immediately went to training but the weather did not help matters.

    “Most of them were traveling outside the country for the first time and you can’t wish that away. The weather was a critical issue. However, in the first match, my assistants and I noticed a number of areas we need to improve on seriously before we can say we have a team.”

    The Dream Team lost 3-5 to the Olympic Eagles of Tunisia at the Stade el Menzah, with the Nigerian goals from

    Etim Emmanuel and Junior Ajayi, who hit a brace. The team created a hatful of chances in the second half, after the first half ended 3-3, but were undone by poor finishing.

    “We thank the NFF for organising these matches because they will really help us prepare for the qualifiers against Gabon, and other matches in the race to the All-Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics. We will try a number of other players in the second match and see how things work out,” Siasia said after Sunday’s training session at the Stade November 7 in Rades, outside Tunis.

  • Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Dream Team VI Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has showered encomiums on Arsenal Football Club midfielder, Alexander Iwobi and already tipped him for great showing in the colours of Nigeria.

    Without mincing words on the talent, skills and abilities of the 18 year old talented midfielder Siasia told NationSport that the player will definitely fulfil his potentials in no distance future with the Super Eagles with what he has seen so far from the five days the player stayed with the rest of the players in camp.

    The former Super Eagles handler also disclosed that he would like to have Iwobi to play for his U-23 national team in one of the two friendly matches against Tunisia in Tunis, which the player’s father Chuka Iwobi had promised to persuade Arsenal Coach, Arsene Wenger to ensure the release of the midfielder for the game.

    “As a former International and a coach who had been with players of immense talents, I would say without bias and prejudice that Alex Iwobi is a bomb ready to explode for Nigeria. He is a big prospect and Nigeria is surely blessed with a player that will be a huge asset for the country. I am very happy with the boy for choosing to play for Nigeria. No wonder England also tried to woo him. I am elated to have him in my team.

    “He still needs polishing, but that won’t be a problem because the boy is ready to learn and he has enjoyed his stay with the rest of the players. He also told them he would like to be in Tunis for the two games,” Siasia stated.

    Siasia is also happy that the Tunisia friendly would be a very good test for his team before the All Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon next month.

    “I must thank the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for arranging this game for us. The boys are aware of the huge task ahead and are ready to perform against Tunisia because that will definitely test their readiness for the Gabon match. I am happy because it is a two-legged match which will afford me to have more assessment of my team. We still hope to travel on Tuesday (tomorrow)”, Siasia disclosed.

    “Talking about Alex joining the team in Tunis for the Tunisia match, his Dad has promised to talk to his Coach in Arsenal for the club to release him for the match since he has good relationship with the Coach. So, the NFF is also aware of this and will work in conjunction with Alex Dad to secure the player’s release for at least one of the two friendly games against Tunisia. But he will have to join from England because he is travelling back to England tonight to beat the dead line given to him to return”, Siasia also disclosed.

  • Siasia hails NFF for getting his team active

    Siasia hails NFF for getting his team active

    The chief coach of the national U-23 men’s football team, Dream Team VI, coach Samson Siasia has expressed delight at the Nigeria Football Federation for getting his team active with both the international friendly against Tunisia and the Super six coming up later this month in Abuja.

    According to coach Siasia, both events will enable him and his technical crew asses the players in camp and know those who can truly represent the country at the All Africa Games and next year’s Olympic Games in Rio.

    “We have been waiting for opportunities like this to help us differentiate the boys from the men, and these games, the Tunisia international friendly and the Super 6 will give us that opportunity to do just that,”Siasia said.

    “Time is not our friend, so any opportunity we have will be adequately utilized for us to get a quality team for the country, like I always say, building a team from the scratch is work in progress.”

    The former Super Eagles chief coach then added that he has been mandated by the NFF to select 21 players for the Tunisia friendly, while another set of players will be selected for the Super 6, that’s the reason why they still have a large number of players in camp.

    He added that the team to Tunisia is expected to leave for Tunis on Thursday 22nd of January for the game which will see the Dream Team VI playing the first game on the 24th of January and the 2nd game on the 28th of January before the team will return to the country on the 29th.

    On the invitation and arrival of Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi, the U-23 gaffer said he will cap him for the country as the players has shown him that he has the quality to play for the country and expressed delight at the response of players to the camp, adding that the NFF has already written to Arsenal to allow him stay back for a few days so as to play the games.

  • Siasia invites Iwobi, Adeyemo to Olympic team

    Siasia invites Iwobi, Adeyemo to Olympic team

    Olympic Team coach, Samson Siasia, has extended invitation to Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi and Dundee United ace, Ola Adeyemo, to join the team ahead of an All Africa Games qualifier next month.

    Iwobi has enjoyed an eventful season, playing regularly for the Arsenal U-21 team, captained the UEFA Youth League team and making it to the substitute bench for the main team, africanFootball.com reports.

    Iwobi, born in England to Nigerian parent has represented England at U-16, U-17 and U-18 levels.

    Dundee’s Adeyemo, who also got an invitation to join the U-23 team, told africanFootball.com that he is delighted with his call-up.

    “I have been invited to be part of the Nigeria U-23 team. I am so excited at this opportunity. Though I was born in London, it has been my dream to play for my country Nigeria. I am glad I have the chance. I am making arrangement to hit the camp in Abuja soon,” the 19-year-old striker told africanFootball.com.

  • European tour will benefit Dream Team – Siasia

    European tour will benefit Dream Team – Siasia

    Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia, believes the friendlies against Egypt and the overseas training camps will benefit his team, as the players prepare for the 2015 All Africa Games qualifiers.

    The team has already been booked a four-legged international friendly with the Egyptian U23’s and then a playing tour of Turkey and possibly Malta and the United Arab Emirates before the first Africa Games qualifier against Gabon on February 20, and Siasia believes having such preparations can only be beneficial to the players and  improve them.

    “It’s a good thing that we are going for the overseas training camp and also playing the friendly matches against Egypt, it is what we asked for and I think it is good preparation for the boys. They have been training locally here and it is time to test against international opposition and see if they can stand the test,” Siasia told sl10.ng.

    The 47-year old has also not been lucky to have the bulk of the overseas based players he invited and has been working with a handful of overseas based players that showed up and majorly the home based players.

    But Siasia still do not expect to have the full complement of the invited overseas based players for the tour, but expressed hopes he can get a few more.

    “It will not be a FIFA free period so we understand that we may still not get all the overseas based guys. But we hope some of them can join us there, since it will be easier for them,” the coach told sl10.ng.

  • Siasia pleads for time

    Siasia pleads for time

    Dream Team Coach Samson Siasia has admitted that producing another Olympic team for Nigeria is a big challenge and has pleaded for time to make things happen.

    The former Super Eagles coach has been tasked with the responsibility of moulding another team to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, after winning a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, and Siasia reckons that it is another huge challenge for him and his coaching staff.

    “It’s a big challenge and it’s always a challenge for us and hopefully we will surmount the challenge and build a good team,” Siasia told sl10.ng.

    The 47-year-old has enjoyed the support of the Nigerian football fans since his appointment and remains arguably the most loved football coach in the country. He said he is aware of the support and added that he hopes to build a very good team for the country.

    “I know they support me and I appreciate them and hopefully we will build a very good team for the country,” said Siasia.

    But despite the support he has enjoyed, Siasia admitted that he will need some more time, and called for patience, adding that he hopes to make Nigeria proud in the end.

    “Well I know they expect a lot from me, we’ve just started and gradually we’ll get there. They have to be very patient because we are working very hard to produce a team that will make the country very proud,” he added.