Siasia to drop four players from team

The Nigeria U23 coach was left gob-smacked by the form of his key players in South Korea which led to a less than stellar showing ahead of the Olympic Games

A top official of the Nigeria U23 side has told Goal that four key players are in danger of losing their places in the team ahead of the Olympic Games in August, following coach Samson Siasia’s disappointment at the performances.

Nigeria lost two matches and nicked a final win at the Suwon four-nation invitational that ended on Monday as part of preparations for Rio 2016 which kicks off in less than two months.

The culprits of Siasia’s wrath are central defender Erhun Obanor, fullback Stanley Amuzie, striker Taiwo Awoniyi and goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel.

The four players may have played their last game for the Olympic team unless they can find their form in the next series of test games.

Siasia was saddened by the 6-2 defeat to Denmark in the second game that he has vowed to weed out unproductive players in the team. He confessed that he was very disappointed with the performance of the players.

“Siasia is not happy that a player like Taiwo Awoniyi has failed to live up to expectations by not converting the numerous chances that came his way despite his potentials,” an official told Goal.

“He is considering dropping him for a more prolific striker unless he bounces back to scoring goals. That is if he considers him for the other friendly games any way.

“The chief coach is also unhappy with the form of goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, the team’s first choice in goal and he has told him to sit up or be shipped out.

“He is also not happy that Obanor has not seized the opportunity left by injured Segun Oduduwa to lay claim to the central defense position while Stanley Amuzie that he had so much hope in has been given a final warning.

“Siasia told Amuzie that if he refuses to sit up other players from Europe will take his position.

“It was a heart to heart and very blunt meeting Siasia had with members of the team after the team’s 3-1 victory over Honduras in their last match at the Suwon Tournament. 

“He told the players bluntly that the Olympic Football Tournament is not child’s play and any player that is not ready should go back to where they came from,” the official concluded.

Siasia has less than two months to put together a team capable of reaching the final in Rio de Janeiro to match the feat of his last team at the Beijing 2008 games.