Nigeria U-23 squad flew into Ghana for their crucial 2008 Olympics qualifying match yesterday
The 32-man contingent was ferried into the Ghanaian capital aboard a Virgin Nigeria 737 aircraft at few minutes past 9am GMT, and was met on arrival by some Ghanaian journalists.
Coach Siasia, who played at the 1994 World Cup finals for Nigeria, told newshounds that he is expecting a very tough match against the Black Meteors.
“Ghanaian football is at the top and we are also at the top. I expect a very exciting match on Friday and there is no doubt that I hope for my team to win.
“It is a very important game; both teams have to avoid defeat. For us, we’re not thinking of anything but victory,”
The Nigerian delegation was met on arrival by a protocol officer from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), as well as a three-man advance team of the NFA that had gone ahead on Tuesday. These included Vice Chairman, Mr Amanze Uchegbulam, technical committee chairman, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi and assistant secretary general (finance), Alhaji Musbau Kayode.
The advance team had inspected the hotel reserved for the team and has also left for Sekondi (five hours drive away from Accra) to inspect the facilities that the Super Eagles will be using during next year’s African Nations Cup finals.
Uchegbulam told Ghanaian journalists that he also expects to see an exciting game when the Nigeria U-23 team and their Ghanaian counterparts trade tackles at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium tomorrow.
“It will be exciting; it will be spectacular and it will be memorable. I believe both teams will entertain the teams and take much away from one another”.
The Nigerian contingent, led by assistant secretary general (competitions) Mohammed Sanusi also include chief coach Siasia, assistant coaches Best Ogedegbe, Henry Nwosu and Monday Odigie, NFA chief media officer Ademola Olajire, team co-ordinator Austel Elumelu, team secretary Shola Ogunnowo, Doctor Olajide Adebola, physiotherapist Babayinka Oluteye, team curator Segun Olobatoke and accounts officer Rajan Zaka.
There are goalkeepers Ambrose Vanzekin and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Elderson Echiejile, Efe Ambrose, Femi Ajilore, Monday James, Apam Onyekachi, Dele Adeleye, midfielders Chibuzor Okoronkwo, Jeremiah Ani, Emmanuel Ekpo, Sani Kaita and Promise Isaac, and strikers Solomon Okoronkwo, Solomon Abwo, Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi and Obinna Nsofor.
Siasia has also come into Accra with his ‘match reader’ Simon Kalika, who goes with him on most trips.
Israel-based defender Olubayo Adefemi, who could not arrive Nigeria on time to join up with the delegation, was scheduled to arrive Accra last night.
The Nigerian team was driven to Kingsby Hotel in the Achimota area on the outskirts of Accra, but the team rejected the place due to poor condition of facilities in the rooms, and checked into Marple Leaf Hotel within the same area.
“We don’t want anything to affect the concentration of the boys ahead of this game, so we can’t have them complaining about so many things,” Siasia said before massing out of the Kingsby hotel with his boys.
Algerian referee Mohamed Benouza will take charge of the encounter which starts at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium (formerly Accra Sports Stadium) at 3pm Ghana time (4pm Nigeria time) tomorrow. The Nigeria team will have a feel of the Ohene Djan turf this evening.
