Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi all in the 35-man preliminary Rio Olympic squad

The Nigerian Football Federation has unveiled the preliminary 35-man football squad prepared by coach Samson Siasia, to represent Nigeria in the Summer Olympic games set for August in Rio de Janeiro.

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, Watford striker Odion Ighalo and Arsenal young revelation Alex Iwobi have all been included in the list. Seventeen of the 35 players included in the team have already had full international experience with the Super Eagles as Siasia hopes to put up a good challenge to win gold this year after falling just short in his 2008 spell in charge


A final list of 18 will be released before the team leaves for Brazil where they have been drawn to face Sweden, Colombia and Japan in the preliminary. Coach Siasia has requested for a final training camp in Atlanta, the venue of the country’s historic Olympic triumph 20 years ago, in order to prepare the boys for “victory in Brazil.”

Below is the full list of players that have been called up:

Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa FC, South Africa), Yusuf Bala (Kano Pillars), Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers), Taiwo Abdulrahman (Kwara United), Ndubuisi Agu (FC Porto, Portugal), Junior Ajayi (CS Sfaxien, Tunisia), Stanley Amuzie (Olhanense FC, Portugal), Taiwo Awoniyi (Frankfurt FC, Germany), Okechukwu Azubuike (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Etor Daniel (Enyimba FC), Augustine Dimgba (Sunshine Stars), William Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway), Saturday Erimuya (Kayseri Erciyespor, Turkey), Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense FC, Portugal), Imoh Ezekiel (Anderlecht, Belgium), Saviour Godwin (Ostende, Belgium), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England), Emiloju Julius (MFM FC), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England), Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey), Usman Muhammed (CF Uniao, Portugal), Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium), Erhun Obanor (MFM FC), Godfrey Oboabona (Caykur Rizespor, Turkey), Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea FC, England), Sodiq Saliu (Seraing FC, Belgium), Abdullahi Shehu (CF Uniao, Portugal), Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium), Seth Sincere (Rhapsody FC), Ndifreke Udo (Abia Warriors), Aminu Umar (Osmalispor, Turkey), Sadiq Umar (AS Roma, Italy)