Siasia names Mikel, Akpeyi, on final Rio squad

•… As Ekong set to replace Omeruo

SUPER Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel and Chippa United goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi may have been registered as Nigeria’s overage players to the 2016 Olympics.

Goal gathered through a reliable source from the Nigeria Football Federation  (nff),that coach Samson Siasia opted for two senior players instead of the mandatory three as competition kicks off next month in Brazil.

“Samson Siasia has submitted his 18-man list for this year’s Olympic football tournament in Rio, Brazil and I can authoritatively disclosed to you that the coach opted for only two overage players and they are Mikel Obi and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi,” the source told Goal.

Having missed the 2012 Olympics in London, the Dream Team would be hoping to win their second Olympic football gold medal with Akpeyi and Mikel expected to lead the quest in August.

Mikel is expected to captain the team having missed out of the 2008 edition staged in Beijing, China, where Nigeria returned with a silver medal having bowed 1-0 to Argentina in the final.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, Mikel, has never hidden his interest in playing for the Dream Team VI and it is not strange seeing him make the cut ahead of Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona who had been named on the 35-man provisional list.

The Dream Team VI continue their preparation for the competition in the United States with a series of friendlies.

Meanwhile, A delay in the loan transfer of Chelsea defender, Kenneth Omeruo to Turkish champions Besiktas could well force Nigeria Olympic team coach, Samson Siasia to replace him with Norway-based William Troost-Ekong, AfricanFootball.com has been told.

Omeruo is very much part of Siasia’s plans for Rio 2016, but he has been held back at Chelsea as they are yet to finalise on his loan transfer to Besiktas.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner was to have flown out to Turkey this past week for a medical and conclude on his personal terms, but it has now been revealed that Chelsea are still working on their agreement with Besiktas for the player.

Omeruo is now most likely to jet out to Istanbul in the new week.

“Kenneth is not talking about the Olympics now, his focus is on sorting out his club future,” a source informed.

Siasia, on the other hand, is not leaving anything to chance and he is now considering replacing Omeruo with Troost-Ekong.

“Troost-Ekong will replace Omeruo should he fail to join the team,” an official stated.