Chief coach of the Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia, has continued to beef up his team ahead of the second leg tie against Zambia in the All Africa Games (AAG) qualifier this weekend.
Four of the invited national Under-23 players for the return leg beat last Wednesday’s deadline set by Siasia to report to camp.
First to arrive the team’s Febson Hotel camp was the captain of the Flying Eagles, Musa Mohammed, after which goalkeeper, Dele Alampasu, arrived. Later, the duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Mustapha Abdullahi came in almost at the same time to the warm embrace of their compatriots.
Siasia has also invited three foreign-based professionals for the game.
The invited players who are expected to arrive camp latest Monday, April 6, are Paul Ebere of Midtjyllan FC, Denmark; Atanda Ololade of FK Apollonia, Albania; and Aminu Umar of Osmanlispor FC, Turkey.
The team was held to a goalless draw by the Zambians at the National Stadium, Abuja, in the first leg.
It leaves the Dream Team with a lot to do in Lusaka this weekend.
Fighton Simukonda’s boys remained resolute throughout the encounter as they withstood the firepower of the Nigerians who could not pierce their defence despite scoring six past Gabon in the previous round.
Meanwhile, Siasia has vowed to win the return leg in Lusaka to qualify for the 2015 AAG.
He said: “We just need to get our acts together to make sure we prepare better and do well in front of the goal in the second leg.
“The boys, however, played very well; they kept possession, but failed to score goals. I think they did better than the last game they played here against Gabon. So they have improved.
“Because we didn’t score does not mean that they are a bad team, they are a good team. It’s just that the connection didn’t work out, but hopefully when we get to Zambia, it will.
“I am disappointed that we couldn’t score. We created good chances in the first half and second half too, but we couldn’t score any. I am also disappointed that we didn’t win (the) game.
“Why I have the confidence that we will beat Zambia to qualify for the All Africa Games is, when you look at the Zambians, you can ask how many chances they created. I think it’s just one or two. My players played from their heart. So I don’t think the game is over. We will go (to Lusaka) and create chances and try to bury them in the second leg.”
Siasia’s wards turned back Gabon’s U-23 side 6-1 on aggregate in the first round.
The winner of this return leg guarantees a spot in the men’s football tournament of the 11th AAG.