Siasia Reacts To Mikel’s Request To Be At Rio Olympics

Coach Samson Siasia has reacted to reports that Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel might be a surprise inclusion in the Nigeria’s Dream Team VI squad to 2016 Rio Olympics.

Siasia has moved to deny the reports with the local media awash with stories that Mikel could be one of the three over-aged players to represent the country in the competition.

READ ALSO: Siasia Hints Two Over-Aged Players He May Take To Brazil

Samson Siasia Reacts To Mikel’s Request To Be At Rio Olympics

Speaking to Supersport.com, Timi Ebikagboro, Nigeria’s Under-23 team spokesman said: “Coach Siasia has not mentioned the name of any player who will be included in the Olympic team so I want to advise the Nigerian media to be patient.

“When the list of players to be invited is released, it will be made available to the media. This issue of trying to be smart or trying to get exclusive (stories) is not going to help the team.

“They will only heat up the polity because if eventually,  Siasia does not invite Mikel, there will be talk of the coach having a grudge against the Chelsea player. The coach has neither invited anyone, nor discussed who he plans to invite to the team.”

READ ALSO: READ What Taiwo Awoniyi Said About The Olympics

Coincidentally, the incumbent coach of the Dream Team VI Samson Siasia was the man who left Mikel out from the squad in 2008, after the Chelsea man failed to take part in the qualifiers for the tournament.

Mikel, 28-year-old has won almost every major trophy including the UEFA Champions League and English Premier League, but he has so far missed out on playing at the Olympics and had indicated interest to be at Brazil.

In 2008 Olympics, Siasia took the trio Osaze Odemwingie, Victor Anichebe and Obinna Nsofor as the overage players.

Siasia will be making a return to the Olympics after his team clinched the U23 AFCON in Senegal over the weekend.

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