Samson Siasia Shuns Taiwo Awoniyi In His Olympics 18-Man Team

Nigeria's U23 coach, Samson Siasia has excluded Liverpool 2013 FIFA U17 world cup winner, Taiwo Awoniyi, from his Rio Olympic Games bound team.

Siasia replaced Awoniyi with Sadiq Umar, who's plying his trade with an Italian Serie A side, Roma, while Belgium-based midfielder, Sodiq Popoola, was a surprised addition to the team.

The team, which has been camping in the United States of America ahead of this summer's Games in Brazil, also shunned Yusuf Mohammed, Stanley Dimgba  and Godwin Saviour from his squad.

The excluded players are placed on the alternative list, just in case any of the selected players got injured as the Games start on August 4 on Brazil.

Meanwhile, the former Flying Eagles coach has named Chelsea's John Mikel Obi and South Africa-based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, as his over-aged players for the tournament. Africanfootball,

Nigeria Rio Olympics 18-man final squad:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Emmanuel Daniel

Defenders: Sincere Seth, Kingsley Madu, Saturday Erimuya, William Troost-Ekong, Ndifreke Effiong, Stanley Amuzie

Midfielders: Mikel Obi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Popoola Sodiq, Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Shehu Abdullahi

Strikers: Umar Aminu, Imoh Ezekiel, Junior Ajayi, Sadiq Umar.

Alternate players:

Taiwo Awoniyi, Yusuf Mohammed (Kano Pillars), Stanley Dimgba (Sunshine Stars) and Godwin Saviour