Nigeria's U23 soccer team starts practice run for Beijing Olympics

LAGOS, April 3 (Xinhua),-- The preparation of Nigeria's U-23 Eagles for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games football event will start its training tour, according to P. M News on Thursday.

Chairman of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Taiwo Ogunjobi was quoted as saying that the Dream Team (IV) Coach, Samson Siasia had submitted his program to the country's football governing body ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing this August.

He stressed that the association has approved Siasia's program and that the team will play an invitational tourney in America and a tour in Malaysia from where they will travel to China for the Olympics.

According to him, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has set a target for the team to win the gold medal of the football event of the Olympic Games.

Ogunjobi said Siasia has permitted by the NFA to invite Wafford of England defender, Danny Shittu, Lokomotive Moscow striker, Osaze Odemwingie and Hapoel Tel Aviv's goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, as part of his overage players for the Olympics.

He said there are three other players from the Super Eagles, whom Siasia had penciled down to be part of his team before his final selection for the Beijing 2008.