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| The National Under-23 Football Team |
The national under-23 male football team will go on break on Friday, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, said on Thursday.
A statement on the association’s website said the team, which recently booked a spot at the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2015 All-Africa Games (AAG), will resume on May 25.
The statement reads: The U-23 National Team, known as Dream Team, will go on break on Friday, 17th April Samson Siasia’s wards, who recently booked a spot at the Men’s Football Tournament of this year’s All-Africa Games, will resume on May 25.
Addressing the players and officials, the Head Coach Samson Siasia advised the players not to see their qualification for the All-Africa Games as the ultimate, but to see it as a wake up call to work harder and qualify for the Olympics taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year.
He disclosed that Nigerians will only accept them as true heroes if they qualify for both games, as the nation has not qualified for the football event of these games at the same time for a very long time.
While congratulating them for making the nation proud, Coach Siasia said any player who has not measured up will be dropped for those who can add value to the team, and that he intends to have a look at some overseas-based professional players who should be on break in May/June to see those who can bolster the squad.
Coach Siasia then advised players who intend going abroad to further their career to seek advice from the NFF and the coaches so that it would be inscribed in their contracts that they will be released any time the team has matches or tournaments to play.
For those who play in the local league, Coach Siasia urged them to add value to their clubs by showing that they are national team players with their level of discipline and dedication.
