WE WILL REPEAT THE DREAM OF THE ATLANTA 1996 EAGLES IN THE OLYMPICS COME PARIS 2024 — EDIDIONG EZEKIEL

The famous Nigeria Under 23 Football team also known as the "Dream Team" or the "Olympic Eagles have once again assembled with the pride and fame of the history to create more history in the books of age grade football following the standard set way back in the 20th century by their predecessors. 

The U23 African Cup of Nations comes up in June 2023 in the North African country of Morocco and it is a stepping stone to world greatness as the final three teams are assured a ticket into the Football event of the Olympics in Paris 2024 whilst the fourth team will have to try their luck in an intercontinental playoff. 

Nigeria, whom in her qualifying series had already edged past east African Giants Tanzania now turn their attention to the final hurdle in the wind sails of quest to secure a place first of all in Morocco 2023 aiming for Paris 2024 after missing out on Tokyo 2020 played in 2021 due to the Corona Virus. 

 

Coach Salisu Yusuf therefore has called up thirty players to camp ahead of this month’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture against West African neighbours Guinea who qualified due to opponents Uganda's withdrawal. The list includes four goalkeeper, eight defenders, 10 midfielders and eight forwards. 

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: John Amah (Sunshine Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Dakkada FC); Ifeanyi Nchekwube (Akwa United); Oriya Joseph (Lobi Stars) 

Defenders: Christopher Nwaeze (Plateau United); Desmond Ojietefian (Shooting Stars); Okechukwu Chikason (Enyimba FC); Anthony Anieke (Akwa United); Samuel Olamilekan (Niger Tornadoes); Benjamin Tanimu (Bendel Insurance); Evans Ogbonda (Port Harcourt City); Umar Ahmed Farouk (Gombe United) 

Midfielders: Daniel Wotlai (Abia Warriors); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Auwalu Naziru (Rangers Int’l); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Enyimba FC); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Taofeek Malomo (Shooting Stars); Samuel Chisom (Kwara United); Samaila Sarki (Bendel Insurance); Kumaga Suur (Lobi Stars); Inye Green (Ibani United) 

Forwards: Munir Idris (Niger Tornadoes); Ahmed Jimoh (Kwara United); Ezekiel Edidiong (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Ogba (Akwa United); Umar Ibrahim (El-Kanemi Warriors); Alkasin Deji Yusuf (Dakkada FC); Mojereola Suleiman (Sunshine Stars); Akile Monday (Lobi Stars). 

 

However one of the invitees feels very confident and dedicated to the plight of representing the nation so much that he promised Nigerians the same fate of the famous Dream Team in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

ASLO READ

•CHELSEA COMEBACK TO BEAT BROUSSIA DORTMUND AND QUALIFY FOR UCL QUARTER FINALS

•A FIRST HALF ASSESSMENT FOR A RESURGENT SUNSHINE STARS WINGER —DAVID ONVO MONITORED BY NPFL CLUBS 

Edidiong Ezekiel was the best player at Dakkada FC last season in the Nigerian Premier Football League and eventually earned himself a move to CAF Confederation Cup bound Remo Stars and has since then earned call ups to represent his nation of birth.

This time around, in an interview with Orange Football Magazine he has promised an authentic showing against Guinea, a spirited performance in Morocco 2023 should they qualify and a further moment of unthinkable magic in the football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics 

Did you expect the call up?

I'm always expectant. 

How have you been working towards the next call up? 

I am always working to be a better player, call ups meets me working and prepared. 

How your friends and family and club feel?

Everybody is happy and we are giving all Glory to God. My Family, especially my Mum who is always in prayers for me and when situations like this comes up, She goes on Her knees to give all Glory to God alone. 

Your relationship with the coach other u23 players: 

Our relationship is that of a good coach and a Player. He is more of a Father to everyone in this call up, (the old players though). The coach knows what He wants on a Game, so for sure He will pick players that will be able to interpret His ideology in games. What I see in the future for the squad is Win, win and win. We will repeat the dream team history of Nigeria Olympic football tournament 1996 squad. Sure we will.

And although the class of 1996 had heroes such as:

Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amunike, Tijani Babangida, Jay-Jay Okocha, Victor Ikpeba, Daniel Amokachi and Sunday Oliseh, who overcame the likes of Hungary, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina to win gold against all odds. 

THIS MIGHT INTEREST YOUR READING:

•MOSES EFFIONG ANXIOUS TO RESUME THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON 

Ezekiel believes the team will draw their inspiration from this to achieve his three phased vision forehand starting with victory against Guinea in their second round of qualifying from March 20th to March 28th

2023 @OrangeFootballMagazine. All rights reserved. Permission to use this article as a quotation and point of reference is allowed subject to appropriate credit being given to the author Orange Football Magazine as the source.