Amapakabo Invites 33 To U-23 National Team’s Camp

Super Eagles assistant coach, Imama Amapakabo has set in motion his programme for this year’s Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Egypt, following his invitation of 33 players to the camp of ‘Dream Team 7.’

Sports247.ng learnt that Amapakabo, who has taken over the under-23 national team’s coaching duties from suspended Salisu Yusuf, will be joined by Kennedy Boboye (first assistant coach), Fidelis Ilechukwu (2nd assistant coach) and Etta Egbe (goalkeepers’ trainer).

Amapakabo and his assistants will now quickly go about building their team, as they are billed to battle Libya next month in their first match of the qualifies for Egypt 2019.

The first leg, which will be hosted by Libya in Tunisia, will hold between 20th and 22nd March, with choosing 25th March for the return leg, with the invited players expected to start camping in Abuja on Wednesday.

Nigeria is the defending champion of the U23 AFCON, having defeated Algeria in the final of the second edition of the championship staged by Senegal in December 2015.

That victory earned ‘Dream Team 6’ a ticket to Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where they won the bronze medal.
Amapakabo will now aim to do better on both continental and global levels with ‘Dream Team 7,’ starting with the third U23 AFCON in Egypt from 8th to 22nd November.

In a roster that contains several unknown lads, Amapakabo’s full list of invitees has four goalkeepers, being Amos Benjamin (Bayelsa United); Makanjuola Adewale (Ekiti United); Anozie Chinedu (FC IfeanyiUbah); and Stanley Nwabili (Enyimba FC).

Also listed are nine defenders: John Lazarus (Lobi Stars); Chidera Eze (Rangers International); Anumudu Udochukwu (Lobi Stars); Austin Ugochukwu (Kano Pillars); Chinedu Ajana (Katsina United); Kehinde Adeyemi (Sunshine Stars); Ndah Olisah (Remo Stars); Chinwendu Ali (Yobe Stars); and Ebube Duru (Lobi Stars).

They will be joined by ten midfielders: Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Isah Ndala (Nasarawa United); William Ukeme (Wikki Tourists); Olatunji Matthew (Enyimba FC); Seth Mayi (Plateau United); Yusuf Maigoro (Kano Pillars); Iwuala Anayo (Kada City); Chukwudi Agor (ASJ, Owerri); Cletus Emotan (Rivers United); and Chigozie Obasi (Sunshine Stars).

Ten forwards complete the list, namely Etiboy Akpan (Akwa United); Anas Mohammed (Shooting Stars); Chijoke Alaekwe (FC IfeanyiUbah); Shamman Tanze (Kano Pillars); Agboola Joshua (Katsina United); Wari Williams (Nasarawa United); Ebuka Okeke (Lamray United); Solomon Nsude (FC IfeanyiUbah); Wasiu Alalade (Enyimba); Tolu Ojo (Remo Stars).