Eagles To Play In Green Soccer Bowl Tournament

Super Eagles Coach,Samson Siasia,will lead a largely home-based Super Eagles to an invitational tournament in the United States of America, taking place February 12-20, 2011.

Organizers of the United States President’s Day Celebration Soccer Invitational Tournament, the Green Soccer Bowl, have confirmed Nigeria as one of the eight teams that will take part in the tournament.

The competition in honour of United States President Barack Obama will take place at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, venue of Nigeria’s first –ever FIFA World Cup finals match, which ended in a 3-0 whitewash of Bulgaria in June 1994.

Already, the Draw for the tournament has been made with the Super Eagles having to contend with Iraq, Poland and Malaysia in Group A, while Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya and Bahrain will play in Group B.

Ahead of this event, Coach Siasia, who is presently spending the yuletide holidays with his family in the United States of America, will return to Nigeria on January and start a camping programme for his home-based troops on January 10.

Three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and 12 strikers have been invited to the camp in Abuja.

GOALKEEPERS: Bassey Akpan (Heartland FC), Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves), Ogwu Chinedu (Kaduna United)

DEFENDERS: Nwabili Valentine (Enyimba FC), Chibuzor Okonkwo, Gege Soriola (Heartland FC), John Agbawu (Lobi Stars), Wasiu Sowemimo (Kano Pillars), Bartholomew Akakem (Ocean Boys), Kenneth Omeruo (Sunshine Stars), ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves)

MIDFIELDERS: Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Julius Ubido (Heartland FC), Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), ThankGod Amaefule (Sharks FC), Daniel Mendel, Cletus Itodo (Sunshine Stars), Uche Kalu (Enyimba)

FORWARDS: Gbolahan Salami (3SC), Osas Okoro (Heartland FC), Moses Ogaga, John Huan (Kano Pillars), Ekigho Ehiosun (Warri Wolves), Frederick Okpara, Ejike Uzoenyi (Rangers FC), Kabiru Waziri (Plateau United), Femi Balogun (Kaduna United), Lazarus Chukwu (Gombe United), Stanley Okoronkwo (Sharks FC), Abdul Jelil Ajagun (Dolphin FC).