simplyolat The FSV Frankfurt forward is optimistic that the
U23 team will perform well at Rio 2016 with
the motivational and technical ability of the
trainer
Nigeria U23 striker Taiwo Awoniyi believes the
team is capable of impressive feats at the
Olympic Games under the tutelage of coach
Samson Siasia.
The African U23 champions have been drawn
in the same group with Sweden, Japan and
Colombia at Rio 2016 but the FSV Frankfurt
forward is confident that the coach would
fashion out a victorious plan.
“I am not sing-praising anybody, I am just
being realistic. I have played under coach
Siasia for some time now and he has this great
quality of pushing players to do what such
player never believed they can do in their life,”
Awoniyi told Goal.
“People won’t know what happened in Senegal
where we not only qualified for the Olympics
but also emerged African U23 Cup of Nations
champions.
“We won that competition because of coach
Siasia and he made sure we forgot our
problems and faced the task before us.
“So I don’t think there is anything to fear at the
Olympics since he is in charge. I can as well
call him a magician,” he disclosed.
The striker has been included in the team that
will play in a four-nation tournament in South
Korea later this month against the hosts,
Denmark and Honduras, all teams that will play
at the Olympics.
“Right now I am working on how to get the
South Korean visa for the four-nation
tournament. I am sure we are not going there
to make up the numbers because I heard that
the teams playing in the tournament have also
qualified for the Olympics,” he said.
“It is going to be very tough but I am confident
of our team. We won’t disappoint football
loving Nigerians.”