The squad consist of twenty rugby players who will be trimmed to twelve to compete for a berth at the International Rugby Board Sevens World Cup in Russia next year.
Some of the selected rugby players are Didi Akinluyi, Mark Olegbude, CJ Osazuwa, Olisah Ufodiama, Eji Uzoigbe, Obi Wilson, Peter Cole, Ese Enajerow,Ari Goualin, Nuhu Ibrahim, Temi Okenla, Abdul Malik Salihu, Yayaha Samson, Will Sharp, Chiso Uzochukwu and Rob Worrincy
National coach, Steve Lewis, who has spent the last three weekends assessing the players under consideration both at home and abroad in the most comprehensive rugby selection process, explained that the players selection was based on quality and skill.
Three weeks ago Lewis flew to the UK to watch two teams made up of Nigerian players on the fringe of national selection play in the Harpenden Pub Sevens in England.
Both teams were knocked out at the quarter final stage of the annual tournament which was won by the England international team but gave the coach the opportunity to see several players he had never seen before.
Several players in the squad are still involved in knock out rounds of competitions for their clubs in the UK which may eliminate them from selection to the final squad. Four players not named in the squadare nursing injuries and their fitness will be monitored by NRFF management in the UK before the final traveling squad is announced.
The coaching and trails sessions in Nigeria included a sevens coaching session, rigorous fitness tests and trials matches.
Every rugby club in the country was invited to nominate and send their best sevens rugby players to attend the trials held within Nigeria.
“The reason for announcing an enlarged provisional squad is because we are still not in a position to confirm the availability of several players who are still involved with their clubs.
There are also a few guys who are coming back from injury and we want to monitor their progress and fitness before a final decision is made.” said Lewis
The 20 man squad announced validates the selection process which has seen a net cast wide to find the players with the genuine ability to represent Nigeria with honour at the highest level of the game.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD FOR MOROCCO
FORWARDS: Didi Akinluyi, Mark Olegbude, CJ
Osazuwa, Olisah Ufodiama, Eji Uzoigbe, Obi Wilson
BACKS: Peter
Cole, Ese Enajerow,Ari Goualin, Nuhu Ibrahim, Temi Okenla, Abdul Malik Salihu,
Yayaha Samson, Will Sharp, Chiso Uzochukwu, Rob Worrincy
UTILITY PLAYERS: David
Akinluyi, Kene Ejikeme, Joe Mbu, Mike Worrincy
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