Nigeria's 'Dream Team' chief coach Samson Siasia has invited 40 players to camp for next month's crucial 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifying match against Ghana's Black Meteors.
Siasia, who watched the Meteors beat South Africa 3-1 in Accra on Sunday, to render the game against Nigeria of huge importance, said: "The Ghanaians are serious about the game against us. They are saying they will do everything possible to beat us so that they can go to the Olympics. We also have to start preparation on time."
There are 21 foreign-based players and 19 home-based. Siasia realistically expects the 19 home-based players in camp by Monday, while the foreign-based players are expected to come in 10 days to the game.
Siasia added: "I am happy that the NFA has cleared the air with Super Eagles coach Berti Vogts on the availability of the likes of Onyekachi Apam, Mikel Obi and Taye Taiwo. We need all our big players who are within the age grade to be in Ghana".
It is the same weekend that the Super Eagles will play Australia in a friendly game in London, but Vogts has agreed to let some of his senior team players go to Accra.
Meanwhile, the game between Nigeria and Ghana will take place on Friday, November 16 at the El-WAK Stadium in Accra, the same venue where the Black Meteors hammered South Africa on Sunday.
FIFA has also appointed Algerian referee Mohamed Benouza as center referee, with his compatriots Ahmed Sedrati and Maamar Chabane as assistants. The fourth official is Abdeslem Khelifi from Algeria while Sidi Bekaye Magassa from Mali is match commissioner.
