NOC Wants U-23 Eagles In Olympics; Drums Support For Nigeria In Morocco

President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Engr.  Sani Ndanusa, has said that he will be happy to see Nigeria featuring in the football event of next year’s Olympic Games in London.

The U-23 Eagles begin chase for one of the three tickets for the Olympics in the African qualifying playoffs which begin today against Morocco.

Ndanusa said the NOC has sent its officials to Morocco to give Austin Eguavoen and his boys the necessary support to ensure that Nigeria qualify for the Olympic Games.

“We are concerned about the qualification and we have sent our officials to monitor the Nigerian team in the championship in Morocco,” he said.

Ndanusa urged Nigerians to pray for the U-23 Eagles for a good outing.

Meanwhile, Enyimba star, Markson Ojobo, will be the only new face in the starting defence of the Nigeria Olympic team against hosts, Morocco today.

Ojobo will play at right back for the Dream Team V in the all-important opener after he pocketed the position during the recent training stint in Ghana.

MTNFootball.com reports that the former Ocean Boys and Bayelsa United star was a star performer for Enyimba as they reached the last four of this year’s CAF Champions League.

And he underlined his versatility in that campaign by playing in the heart of the defence as a sweeper.

It is because of his five-star displays at right back that Portugal-based Terna Suswan will now have to shift to left back, a position he also played for the Nigeria U-20 team recently.

The form of Ojobo and injury to 3SC star, Chima Akas will hand Suswan a starting shirt against the Junior Atlas Lions.

The central defence has Kingsley Udoh and Emmanuel Anyanwu of Enyimba with defensive midfielder and skipper Obiora Nwankwo as the screen for the back four that also has goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye.

It is in midfield and attack that coach Austin Eguavoen will have to do a lot of juggling forced by the absence of several of his regulars like Nosa Igiebor, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Ekigho Ehiosun.

In midfield, Ayo Saka (Ocean Boys), Osas Okoro(Heartland), Gbolahan Salami (3SC) and Ukraine-based winger Michael Babatunde are expected to get playing time, while in attack NPL hotshot Jude Aneke, Olanrewaju Kayode and Daniel Chima Ukechi are favoured.

Despite his experience, Sudan-based Stephen Worgu may have to be content with a place on the bench after training only once with the team in Morocco.