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Under-23 national squad, the Dream Team IV Coach, Samson Siasia, has issued an emphatic declaration that Chelsea whiz kid, John Mikel Obi, would not be part of the squad to the Olympic Games in August.
Under-23 national squad, the Dream Team IV Coach, Samson Siasia, has issued an emphatic declaration that Chelsea whiz kid, John Mikel Obi, would not be part of the squad to the Olympic Games in August.
Siasia told brilafm.net that Mikel's issue was a closed case, since the youngster's name was not included in the provisional list, while also stopping short of naming his three over-aged players.
'I've said it before, and I won't change what I've said. Mikel's case is already a done deal and there is no going back. We can't even change it now since the provisional list has been sent and his name is not included in it," Siasia revealed.
The coach also reacted to demands by soccer-loving Nigerians for Newcastle United striker, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins to be part of the Olympic adventure, but said the former Inter Milan star was already over 23 and his name was also not included in the provisional squad.
'I would have loved to have Martins if he had been within the under-23 bracket.
Unfortunately, he is not within the age limit, and we did not register him among the over-aged players. That's why he will not be there for the Olympics," Siasia pointed out.
He also spoke about his plans for the competition in August and revealed that the tour of USA has finally been cancelled, since the organisers wanted his team in July, while he's expected to submit the final list between June 23 and 27.
'We are redirecting our focus towards more matches in Asia. The USA trip is off already, but we are thinking about playing an invitational tournament in South Korea and another in Japan.
'The training camp will open in Portugal. We also have programmes in Malaysia and China," he revealed.