lexyman:
On paper , we can comfortably top the group ....these guys needs to start working hard and harder . It's the beginning of a new dawn .

adeyemi2015:
RIO 2016 OLYMPIC DRAW

Group A
Brazil
South Africa
Iraq
Denmark

Group B
Sweden
Colombia
Nigeria
Japan


Group C
Fiji
Korea
Mexico
Germany

Group D
Honduras
Algeria
Portugal
Argentina


*https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgAh_DdXEAA3KhD.jpg:large

Icon4s:


Group B (Our Group) to me is the most evenly matched group.

Lucky enough we got the easiest of the top seeded Teams (Japan).

My assessment of our chances in that Group:

Let's look at the group from 4 angles:

(1) Nigeria finished 1st in African Qualifiers
Columbia finished 2nd in South America ahead of Uruguay and Brazil who were 3rd and 4th respectively
Sweden finished 1st in Europe (a continent that had Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium in participation)
Japan finished 1st in Asia.

3 continental champions and 1 first Runner-up are in our group. How else can u describe it if nt "group of death".

HOWEVER, experience has shown that performance at the continental stage does nt in MOST cases repeat itself in the world stage. We have seen where teams that finished 3rd and 4th in the continental qualifiers doing far better than teams that finished 1st and 2nd second.

(2) Pedigree: What usually repeat itself more at the world stage is performance due to pedigree.

Now, go back and look at the Teams in our group and assess them based on pedigree at this stage (U20 - U23).

The Teams I fear the most at this stage are Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Other threats: Mexico, Portugal, France, Germany.
None of these guys are in our group. However, Columbia, Japan and Sweden have shown they are no push overs at age grade level.
So based on pedigree, we have a fairly easy group.

(3) How do these countries perform at senior levels? The U23 is a very competitive age grade. Very close to the senior World Cup.
A good number of the U23 players are already senior team players for their various countries. No one needs to tell us where the likes of Columbia, Japan and Sweden belong at senior level. Any day any time they are a tough nut to crack. Senior team performance has a way of rubbing off on the U23 team.


(4) Another way you can look at it is who are likely to make the squads for each team? I know a couple of good individual players from Columbia who are U23. With 3 over-aged playesr we expect to see the likes of James Rodrigues, Quadrado and who knows maybe David Ospina in the team. Some1 mentioned Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make the Swede squad. Then Kagawa and co for Japan. All those inclusions make those teams tougher.

My fears just like every other forumite here is will Siasia select our best U23 players plus 3 well deserving over-aged players?

Imagine Ibrahimovic leading Sweden's attack and Taiwo Awoniyi or Osimhen Leading Nigeria's attack. What will u call that? David Vs Goliath.

Right now as it is, looking at all 4 angles highlighted above it still points to d fact that we are in a very difficult group. I cannot stick my neck to say whether we will qualify from that group or not until I see Siasia's camping programme and list of invited players.


My verdict: WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT GROUP.

terzurum5:

This is what I do not understand about our Coaches, what has this tedious produced with the likes of Ajayi and other strikers he took to the AAGS & U23 AFCON? He might have managed to win the U23 Trophy, but remember at the Olympics, its not going to be the same ball game.

This might just be a pointer to the fact that Sir Forgiveness's stance on our Coaches' player selection is not out of place.

forgiveness:
Lyon Join Arsenal In Race For New Nwankwo Kanu, Sadiq Umar

Published: April 15, 2016


Lyon Join Arsenal In Race For New Nwankwo Kanu, Sadiq Umar
Roma sensation Sadiq Umar is attracting huge interest from Europe’s elites,with the transfer window set to open for business in the next two months or so.

The teenager has been linked with a possible move to Arsenal in the summer and there is a new suitor from France interested in snapping him up.

According to celebrated Italian sports daily, la Gazzetta dello Sport, seven-time French champions Olympique Lyonnais have joined the race for the signature of Sadiq Umar, who has been touted as the new Nwankwo Kanu back in his homeland.

If it comes to a bidding war, Lyon do not have the financial muscle to compete with their more illustrious rivals, with Arsenal reportedly prepared to pay up to 20 million euros to secure his signature.

The 19-year-old Umar has suited up six times for the first team of Roma in the Serie A and has netted two goals.

http://allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=18674

enomakos:
roma president hads said the kid is not going anywhere same with nura
look like them will promote them to the 1team next season

forgiveness:
Rio 2016: Siasia squad list headache as April 19 deadline looms

Posted By: Adeniyion:

April 15, 2016

Dream Team VI Coach, Samson Siasia has raised concerns over the challenges of getting players in camp for the team with 4 days before the deadline of the submission of the squad list.

Siasia expressed worries that none of the 30 players invited have been given leave by their clubs to join the coaches in camp which is at the moment ‘ virtually camp’ and he and his assistants have been wiping up names they hope to send to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).

In a chat with footballlive.ng, Siasia warned that only early preparations could help the country do well in the Tournament though he admits the Group B pairing was a fair bargain.

Nigeria get their campaign in Rio off on August 4 against Japan at the Amazônia Arena in Manaus. The Dream Team VI will complete their group stage campaign 6 days later with games against Sweden ( 7th August) and Colombia ( 10th August).


http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/2/825939115?-21310:8643:t

terzurum5:
[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria African Football South Africa U23
Rio 2016: Favourable draws for Banyana, SA Under-23's
[/size]

Banyana Banyana and South Africa's under-23 national men's team were handed favourable draws for the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The official draw for the Olympic Football Tournament was held at the iconic Maracana Stadium on Thursday.


Owen da Gama's troops were drawn in Group A alongside hosts Brazil, Denmark and Iraq with the Seleção vying for their first Olympic gold. The South Americans have yet to win gold in 12 Olympic appearances.


1996 champions Nigeria were drawn in Group B.




South Africa will be eyeing revenge over Sweden having lost 4-1 to the Europeans at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.


Full draw:
Men:
Group A - Brazil, South Africa, Iraq, Denmark


Group B - Sweden, Colombia, Nigeria, Japan


Group C - Fiji, South Korea, Mexico, Germany


Group D - Honduras, Algeria, Portugal, Argentina


Women:
Group E - Brazil, China, Sweden, South Africa


Group F - Canada, Australia, Zimbabwe, Germany
Group G - USA, New Zealand, France, Columbia
africanfootball.com/news/625162/Rio-2016-Favourable-draws-for-Banyana-SA-Under-23-s
[/b]

terzurum5:
[b][size=14pt]
AF Nigeria Colombia
Siasia upbeat but fears Manus heat at Rio Olympics
[/size]

Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia


Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has said he expects to steer his team past a group that has Japan and Sweden at the Rio Olympics but has also raised concerns over the heat in Manus, where his team will play their first two matches.


Siasia said he expects Nigeria to reach the knockout rounds of the Rio Olympics from “a fair enough group”.


He guided Nigeria to the Gold medal match at Beijing 2008 and said he believes a wining start against Japan on August 4 will set the tone for another great campaign.


“I am targeting a convincing win in our opening match. Japan won’t be easy, but we need to beat them well to take command of the group,” he said.


“The win will give us the confidence for the matches against Sweden and Colombia.”
However, he said he is apprehensive about the heat in Manus, where Nigeria will play their first two matches.


“The only difficulty I foresee is the hot weather in manus for our first two games,” he said.
“All the same, that can’t stop us.”
africanfootball.com/news/625226/Siasia-upbeat-but-fears-Manus-heat-at-Rio-Olympics
[/b]

terzurum5:
[b][size=14pt]
RED HOT FRIDAY FRED SCORES AGAIN IN NORWAY
[/size]

20 year old Nigeria forward, Friday Fred scored for the third consecutive game in the five games old Norwegian league to help Lillestrom salvage a point against FK Haugesund.


Lillestrom were trailing FK Haugesund 2-1 before Fred scored for the fourth time this season from five games to draw his team level and continue his fine run of form in front of goal.


The scorer of 11 goals last season wasn’t the only Nigerian on the pitch in the game between Lillestrom and FK Haugesund with Innocent Bonke also on his side for the entire duration of the game.


FK Haugesund played three Nigerians in the encounter with William Troost-Ekong and Anthony Izuchukwu starting while Ibrahim Shuaibu came on in the 69th minute.
owngoalnigeria.com/2016/04/15/red-hot-friday-fred-scores-again-in-norway/
[/b]

terzurum5:


You are doing a good job here sir. Good updates.

amagunnerfan:
What has Welbeck got to do with this? Welbeck is better than Bony and I am sure you know it.

Icon4s:


Group B (Our Group) to me is the most evenly matched group.

Lucky enough we got the easiest of the top seeded Teams (Japan).

My assessment of our chances in that Group:

Let's look at the group from 4 angles:

(1) Nigeria finished 1st in African Qualifiers
Columbia finished 2nd in South America ahead of Uruguay and Brazil who were 3rd and 4th respectively
Sweden finished 1st in Europe (a continent that had Spain, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Belgium in participation)
Japan finished 1st in Asia.

3 continental champions and 1 first Runner-up are in our group. How else can u describe it if nt "group of death".

HOWEVER, experience has shown that performance at the continental stage does nt in MOST cases repeat itself in the world stage. We have seen where teams that finished 3rd and 4th in the continental qualifiers doing far better than teams that finished 1st and 2nd second.

(2) Pedigree: What usually repeat itself more at the world stage is performance due to pedigree.

Now, go back and look at the Teams in our group and assess them based on pedigree at this stage (U20 - U23).

The Teams I fear the most at this stage are Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Other threats: Mexico, Portugal, France, Germany.
None of these guys are in our group. However, Columbia, Japan and Sweden have shown they are no push overs at age grade level.
So based on pedigree, we have a fairly easy group.

(3) How do these countries perform at senior levels? The U23 is a very competitive age grade. Very close to the senior World Cup.
A good number of the U23 players are already senior team players for their various countries. No one needs to tell us where the likes of Columbia, Japan and Sweden belong at senior level. Any day any time they are a tough nut to crack. Senior team performance has a way of rubbing off on the U23 team.


(4) Another way you can look at it is who are likely to make the squads for each team? I know a couple of good individual players from Columbia who are U23. With 3 over-aged playesr we expect to see the likes of James Rodrigues, Quadrado and who knows maybe David Ospina in the team. Some1 mentioned Zlatan Ibrahimovic to make the Swede squad. Then Kagawa and co for Japan. All those inclusions make those teams tougher.

My fears just like every other forumite here is will Siasia select our best U23 players plus 3 well deserving over-aged players?

Imagine Ibrahimovic leading Sweden's attack and Taiwo Awoniyi or Osimhen Leading Nigeria's attack. What will u call that? David Vs Goliath.

Right now as it is, looking at all 4 angles highlighted above it still points to d fact that we are in a very difficult group. I cannot stick my neck to say whether we will qualify from that group or not until I see Siasia's camping programme and list of invited players.


My verdict: WE ARE IN A VERY DIFFICULT GROUP.