EGYPT WOULD BE MISSED AT ALL AFRICAN GAMES - SIASIA

Nigeria U23 handler Samson Siasia has disclosed that playing Egypt at the 2015 All African Games would have been a perfect test for his side as they prepare for the African U23 Championship in Senegal.

The north African nation pulled out of the competition according to the Confederation of African Football on Wednesday without stating reasons for their decision.

The Dream Team VI were billed to battle the Pharaohs in the men’s football event alongside Senegal and Ghana in Group B, and Siasia feels the Egyptian would have been a good test for his team.

"I don’t know why Egypt pulled out of the All Africa Games because it could have been a good game for us because we are preparing towards the 2016 Olympics,” Siasia toldGoal. 

"Playing against Egypt could have been a good game for us.  But since the team is out we will play the other teams remaining there. Hopefully we can play a better game and get to the final and try to win it.” 

Meanwhile, the team defeated Ebonyi United 3-0 in a friendly game at the Fifa Goal Project pitch and the former Super Eagles handler assures that he would correct the lapses in the team’s attack before the commencement of the All African Games. 

"Scoring goals has been a serious problem for this team despite the fact that we have been working seriously on this problem. These guys are just too jittery in front of goal,” he continued. 

“In areas where you can control and just pass ball into the goal line they are too much in a hurry to score. Also the application is important in football because when you follow a ball you have to know exactly how you have to kick the ball. 

"Although there is nothing we can do now than to continue working in front of goal to make sure they become calmer to control the ball and try to pick the spot where to put the ball. 

"We know how we suffered in Congo because we couldn’t score here. We will continue to do what we have to do, we will do more functional training before we start the All Africa Games competition,” he concluded.

"Foreign based trio of Azubuike Ikechukwu, Mustapha Abdullahi and Aminu Umar will join the Nigeria U23 squad in Congo Brazzaville from their respective clubs in Europe.