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Tag: Siasia

  • Siasia faces selection headache

    Siasia faces selection headache

    Two weeks of contrasting fortunes for U-23 National Team Head Coach, Samson Siasia, has ended with sheer headache on which players he should pick for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations camp in Morocco.

    Last week, it was a frustrated Siasia who cried out that his camp was empty due to clubs’ incessant demand for their players to report for club duties. This week, the story has changed as the former Super Eagles’ Head Coach is now faced with the problem of selecting the 30 players who will make his list to Morocco where the team will have a final camping before proceeding to Senegal for the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations starting on November 28.

    The invited 35 home -based players were at the team’s training session on Tuesday evening, with competition intense as they struggled to impress as the list of 30 is soon to be compiled. The session was so charged that Siasia  had to tell the players to take things easy so as to avoid injuries.

    Expressing satisfaction with the players in camp, an elated Siasia said: “For now, all I can say is that I am very happy with what I have seen as the players came back from their club engagements fully refreshed and ready to do the nation proud. The NFF has also responded positively to my cry for the release of these players so we can prepare properly for the big task of picking one of Africa’s tickets for the football event of next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

    “I must confess that selecting the 30 players who will be departing the shores of this country for Morocco is giving myself and my assistants real headache, but this is a positive headache which at the end of the day will enable us select only the best that will fly the nation’s flag with gusto.”

    Meanwhile, the Dream Team will on Thursday at the National Stadium, Abuja trade tackles with newly promoted NPFL club Niger Tornadoes of Minna. The encounter is expected to kick off at 4pm.

    On Saturday morning, the team will engage C.O.D FC of Lagos.

     

    FULL LIST OF PLAYERS IN U-23 CAMP

    1. Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers)
    2. Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars)
    3. Emmanuel Iwu (Heartland FC)
    4. Segun Oduduwa (Nath Boys)
    5. Sincere Seth (Rhapsody Academy)
    6. Erhun Obanor (Abia Warriors)
    7. Daniel Etor (Enyimba FC)
    8. Oghenekaro Etebo (Warri Wolves)
    9. Godwin Aguda (Enugu Rangers)
    10. Usman Mohammed (FC Taraba)
    11. Ndifreke Effiong (Abia Warriors)
    12. Chukwuebuka Iroha (Diamond FC)
    13. Austine Oladapo (FC IfeanyiUbah)
    14. Christian Pyagbara (Sharks FC)
    15. Stanley Dimgba (Warri Wolves)
    16. Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba FC)
    17. Godspower Effiong (Kano Pillars)
    18. Ifeanyi Mathew (El -Kanemi Warriors)
    19. Bright Onyeadikachi (FC IfeanyiUbah)
    20. Prince Aggrey (Sunshine Stars)
    21. Mustapha Abdullahi (Sportlight FC)
    22. Bature Yaro? (Nasarawa United)
    23. Zaradeen Bello (Kano Pillars)
    24. Ahamefule Chizoba
    25. Seun Olulayo (Sunshine Stars)
    26. Tiongoli Tonbara (Bayelsa United)
    27. Kufre Ebong (Warri Wolves)
    28. Kingsley Eduwo (Sunshine Stars)
    29. Abubakar Aliyu
    30. Anaezemba Nzube (Enyimba FC)
    31. Charles Chukwudi (Plateau United)
    32. Daniel Enmanson (Akwa United)
    33. Ibrahim Alhassan (Hearts FC)
    34. Chisom Chikatara (Abia Warriors)
    35. Adebayo Ajadi (36 Lions?)
  • Siasia wants Morocco camp for Nigeria U-23

    Siasia wants Morocco camp for Nigeria U-23

    Nigeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia believes preparing for the African U-23 championship in Morocco will be a right step for his team as they aim to pick a ticket to Rio 2016.

    The Dream Team VI will face Egypt, Algeria and Mali in Group B when Senegal 2015 kicks off on November 28.

    “Anything apart from going to Morocco for the camping exercise will be a big disappointment towards our preparations,” Siasia told Goal.

    “We don’t have a plan B right now. We need to get out of this place and make sure we go over there and focus very well and prepare.

    “Even though things are not working well as we want it to be but we have to do the best we can to make sure we qualify for the 2016 Olympics football tournament. We have to qualify. We are bound to qualify.

    Siasia also revealed that his team still lacks the goal scoring instinct despite playing quality football but he assured that the area would be improved on before departing for Senegal.

    “We are trying to play good football but we still need to improve. The last game we played in Port Harcourt everybody was excited and very happy about how we played even though our biggest problem is scoring.”

    “That is the area we need to work on. To bring in new players will be a difficult job again for us to make sure that these guys can blend together like we did the last time.

    “Hopefully, the ones that will come in will try to catch up on time so that we can play well, not only to play well but to score goals too,” he said.

    Nigeria U-23  failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics staged in London.

  • Siasia fined N.5m

    Siasia fined N.5m

    •Ordered to  apologise publicly
    •Apologises to NFF
    •Says frustration, family pressure caused rant

    Sportinglife can reveal exclusively today that Dream Team VI chief coach, Samson Siasia has been fined N500,000 over his utterances in two radio stations on issues surrounding the country’s Rio d’ Janerio 2016 Olympic Games’ preparations.

    Besides, the NFF ordered Siasia apologise publicly in all the media platforms where he made the allegations against the federation.

    The Dream Team VI coach was given a last warning that he would be sacked if he infringes on any of the terms of his contract with the soccer-ruling body again.

    Siasia had on October 29, written to the NFF General Secretary through the body’s Deputy General Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme that the interview he granted on October 28 was done out of frustration.

    ” And things are not easy with me and my family.

    “In view of the above, I sincerely apologise and pledge that such will not happen again in the course of my official/unofficial assignments with the federation.

    “Thanking you for your kind consideration. I remain yours in sports,” Siasia wrote in his apology letter.

  • Siasia faces sack

    Siasia faces sack

    • NFF gets stand-by coach

    • Sia One yet to respond to query

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has put on standby a coach to replace Samson Siasia as head of the country’s U-23 team after his media attack against his employers.

    Siasia has been queried by his employers after he blasted them in the media, accusing them of abandoning his team just a month before crucial 2016 Rio Olympics qualifiers in Senegal.

    NFF officials have described Siasia’s comments in the media as “gross misconduct” and have moved ahead to place a coach on standby should the U-23 coach not answer the query satisfactorily.

    An official said: “One of the coaches with the national team has been put on standby to replace Siasia should he not answer his query satisfactorily. That coach will be the one who will lead the team to Senegal if Siasia is fired.”

    What has irritated the NFF leadership the most is that a top executive committee member had met with Siasia to explain the federation’s financial situation to him only for the coach to still go to the media hours later to declare he should not be blamed should the country fail to qualify for next year’s Olympics.

    It was further gathered that Siasia is already sober after he received his query.

    “He is already begging and apologising to everyone, but what is crucial is how he answers the query. That will determine whether he stays or he is booted out,” another source disclosed.

     

  • SIASIA TO LEAGUE CLUBS: Seek permission from NFF, not me

    SIASIA TO LEAGUE CLUBS: Seek permission from NFF, not me

    Coach Samson Siasia has directed all clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) requesting for the release of their players for league games to send their requests to the General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi, as he (Siasia) has no power to release any player.

    Expressing displeasure at the requests being made by these clubs for the release of their players, Coach Siasia said: “While I understand with them that they need their players for club engagements, I also want to remind them that they need to co-operate with us to qualify for the football event of the Rio Olympic Games, and the only way we can achieve this objective is by having all the players in camp to train so we can pick only the best legs.”

    The U-23 supremo disclosed that for now, no player will be released from the camp, and that aside those in the Super Eagles B that were in Ouagadougou for Sunday’s CHAN qualifier against the Etalons of Burkina Faso, all other players must report to camp and be part of the team’s training session today, or forget about reporting to camp altogether.

  • IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    Super Eagles and Arsenal Football Club of England striker Alex Iwobi has declared huge interest in playing for the Samson Siasia tutored Dream Team VI.

    Iwobi who was wooed by Siasia to play for the Dream Team VI during the qualifying series for 2015 All Africa Games but couldn’t play home and away to Zambia as a result none clearance of his eligibility status by world football governing body FIFA has now been officially cleared after being capped twice for the Super Eagles against DR Congo and Cameroon having being invited by Eagles’ Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh.

    Speaking with SportingLife from his base in London yesterday, Iwobi who showered praises on Eagles gaffer Sunday Oliseh for extending invitations to him also expressed readiness to help the Dream Team VI in the team’s bid to qualify for the 2016 Olympics but Nigeria must pick a ticket first in an Africa U-23 Championship slated for Senegal next month.

    “I was very happy that I eventually got my chance to play for my fatherland Nigeria and not only that I got two caps to that effect so I thank the Coach Sunday Oliseh and everybody that supported me. I am very happy to play for my fatherland.

    “Since I have a very good relationship with the Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Sunday Oliseh and Coach Samson Siasia I am ready to help my country at any level they want me to. I’m just very proud to play for my country, the level does not really matter to me. If Coach Samson Siasia extends invitation to me I will surely honour the invitation and come down to join the rest of the players to play,” Iwobi told SportingLife.

  • Rio Olympics qualifiers: Siasia contacts Ndidi

    Rio Olympics qualifiers: Siasia contacts Ndidi

    Genk of Belgium ace Wilfred Ndidi has disclosed he has been contacted by Nigeria U-23 coach Samson Siasia to be part of next month’s Rio Olympics qualifier in Senegal.

    “Siasia actually spoke to me when he came to watch the Super Eagles friendlies in Belgium. He said he wants me to be part of his squad for the Olympic qualifiers,” ex-Nath Boys of Lagos star Ndidi revealed.

    “I am always honoured to play for my country but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have to first get my release from my club.”

    The Africa U-23 Nations Cup is not on the FIFA international calendar even though it will serve as a qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

    Ndidi, who will be 19 in December, has already featured for Nigeria at U17 and U23 levels.

    He is first and foremost a central defender, but this season he has played as a defensive midfielder for his Belgian club.

    He has won two full international caps against DR Congo and Cameroon during the Eagles recent friendlies in Belgium.

     

  • I won’t rely on Foreign based players-Siasia

    I won’t rely on Foreign based players-Siasia

    National U-23 Head Coach Samson Siasia has vowed not to rely on the foreign based players as his team begin preparations for the African qualifiers of the 2016 Olympic games. The qualifiers hold in Senegal.

    Siaone as he is fondly called by his admirers said: “We are going to look at everywhere both home and abroad to get those players that would fit into our plans. Because, the problems with the foreign based players is that if you depend on them, and their clubs fail to release them for the competition, you would become confused. It is better we rely on our home based players who will always be there for us anytime you need them.

    ” Look at what happened to us with the case of Godwin Saviour and Taiwo Awoniyi at the just concluded All African Games, where they pleaded with us to just allow them to go and sign for the clubs and return to join the team. But, the clubs said the competition is not on the FIFA calendar, and that was all. But I still feel that something can be done. Because, we cannot stop them from going to Europe. Many of them are breadwinners in their families, and they also need to develop their games. If you disallow them, they will look at it as if you don’t want their progress. What we can do is to have an agreement with the clubs and the players, that if their services are needed, they should be released. Once, we have that proper agreement, the players would be released,” he said.

    The former Julius Berger of Lagos striker said: “The Olympic qualifier is another ball game all together. We have seen our loop holes in Congo, and are going to correct them before the qulifiers in Senegal and ensure we pick one of the tickets for the Olympic games.”

  • Siasia joins Bayelsa governorship race

    Siasia joins Bayelsa governorship race

    A governorship aspirant in Bayelsa State, Moses Siasia, has submitted his nomination form as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, with a pledge to liberate the state from the shackles of oppression, debt and inept leadership.

    The Chairman of Mosilo Group said his candidature is driven by the people who seek genuine change. He promised to create jobs for the teeming youths and make education affordable.

    Siasia spoke in Abuja after submitting his Expression of Interest and Nomination Form to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM). He was received by the party’s National Secretary, Dr. Ifeanyi Igwe.

    Siasia reiterated his  commitment to the implementation of policies that would create an enabling environment for employment generation and wealth creation, adding that he would also give impetus to education, health care delivery, urban renewal, agriculture and industrial development.

    He said: “In furtherance of substantiating and advancing my commitment to run for the Governorship Seat of Bayelsa State in December 5th 2015, I have finally submitted my Expression of Interest/Nomination Form to the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) National Secretariat in Abuja.”

    Siasia also pledged to transform Bayelsa into the economic hub of the Southsouth.

  • AAG WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME – SIASIA

    AAG WAKE-UP CALL FOR ME – SIASIA

    DREAMream Team VI Coach Samson Siasia has revealed the 11th All Africa Games (AAG) has opened his eyes that he has a lot of work to do on the team ahead of the Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal in November.

    The Dream Team VI disappointed against Burkina Faso in the semi-final, but beat hosts Congo 5-3 on penalties to win the bronze medal.

    According to Samson Siasia, his team’s performance at the games was a wake-up call for him ahead of the Senegal championship.

    “We have learnt a lot of lessons from the games. We have a lot of work to do on the team and this competition was actually a wake-up call for me,” Siasia said.

    “The only consolation we have is that we are not going back empty handed.

    “But if we must win in Senegal then a lot of work must be done. Thank God this happened now, so we don’t get carried away that we have a team who can do well in Senegal.”

    The Dream Team returned to Nigeria on Friday and are expected to begin training camp in two weeks for the U-23 championship, which will serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics.