Flying Eagles Name Squad to Face Tanzania

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

Suleiman Jongo And Agencies

4 June 2011

Dar Es Salaam — Nigeria’s Under-23 soccer team coach, Austin Eguavoen has unveiled his 21-man squad for tomorrow’s Olympic Games qualifier against Tanzania.Eguavoen’s squad consists of four strikers, eight midfielders, six defenders and three goalkeepers.

The Nigerian team was due in the country last night for the second round, first leg qualifier to be held at the National Stadium. The two-legged qualifier will decide who qualifies for the finals of the quadrennial multi-sport event set for next year in London, England.

Al-Ittihad’s striker Azuka Izu is among the players the Nigerians bank on for goals in what promises to be an exciting encounter.The player was drafted into Eguavoen’s squad following the departure of Aberdeen of Scotland-based attacking midfielder Sone Aluko, who has been granted permission to go and sort out club matters.

“After watching the first round, second leg game between Tanzania and Cameroon in Dar es Salaam, I must say that we have a team capable of winning the match,” said the Nigeria team’s assistant coach, Stanley Eguma.

“We aren’t underrating the young Taifa Stars. We are conscious of the fact that there are no underdogs any more in African football, but we are at the same time determined to go all out for the three points so as to make the return leg a mere formality,” he added.

Meanwhile, the team’s spokesperson, Arafat Aliu, confirmed yesterday that Leicester City’s attacking midfielder Uchechi Daniel, who suffered a muscle tear in a friendly against Costa Rica, would head back to the UK.

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