CAF Under-23 Championship: Amapakabo Set For Olympic Qualifier; Names Team

By Akinwale Kasali

Coach Imama Amakapabo of  Nigeria’s Under-23 team, popular known as ‘Dream Team VI’, is not leaving any stone unturned. He is battle ready for the CAF Under-23 Championship slated for Egypt. It is kicking off next week.

The championship started in 2015. That year was the inaugural competition during which Africa’s top three teams qualified for the Soccer event at 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The tournament in Egypt is  the second edition. Three top teams will qualify, thereafter, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Having played the Qualification series, the last eight teams standing will be grouped  into two groups.  The top two from each group will qualify for the semi finals. The top three  will now  hoist the Continent’s flag in the soccer tournament of the Olympic Games.

In 2015, Samson Siasia led  Nigeria’s Under-23 team to lift the coveted inaugural  trophy.  Amapakabo is aiming to follow suit.

To achieve that, he has named Kelechi Nwakali, Azubuike Okechukwu, Taiwo Awoniyi and Tom Dele-Bashiru in his final 21-man squad for the 2019 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Also in the squad are former Flying Eagles defender, Valentine Ozornwafor, Austria-based winger, Sunday Faleye; Nigeria Professional Football League top scorer, Ibrahim Sunusi and Orji Okonkwo made the final 21-man squad.

Players and officials of the team left Abuja for Egypt on Thursday afternoon for the competition. Nigeria will start its  campaign against Cote d’l voire on November 9 at the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo.

Their other group matches will be against South Africa and Zambia.

The competition will run from November 8th to November 28th.

The final 21-man squad are: Goalkeepers: Adamu Abubakar , Mohammed Galadima, Kingdom Osayi

Defenders: Olisa Ndah, Valentine Ozorwanfor, Sincere Seth, Josiah Chukwudi, Anthony Izuchukwu, Samuel Atavti, Bitok Stephen

Midfielders: Ibrahim Sunusi, Kelechi Nwakali, Sunday Faleye, Ndifreke Effiong, Azubuike Okechukwu, Tom Dele-Bashiru, Muyiwa Olabiran, Aliyu Yau Adam and,

Forwards: Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Enobakhare, Orji Okonkwo.