LAGOS — The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) named on Wednesday a 40-man provisional squad, most of them Europe-based players, for the under-23 soccer event at the Sydney Olympic Games starting in September.

The squad will be reduced to 18 in time for the Games.

Arsenal’s French coach Arsene Wenger said this week that he had convinced Nwankwo Kanu not go to Sydney because the club needed him for the premier league. Kanu is named in the list.

NFA spokesman Austin Mgbolu said: ‘We’ll be sending invitation letters to all the players and wait to see the response before taking any action.’

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ettah Ijoh (Mehala), Greg Etafia (Lobi Stars) and Sam Okoye (Rangers).

Defenders: Taribo West (AC Milan), Isaac Okoronkwo (Sherif Raspor),Gbenga Okunowo (Benfica), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea), Christopher Kanu(Ajax), Emeka Ifejiagwa (FC Osasuna), Chikelue Iloenyosi (TB Berlin),Azubuike Oliseh (FC Utrecht), Rabiu Afolabi (Napoli), Furo Iyenemi (FCAntwerp), Ifeanyi Udeze (FC Kavalle), Chidi Odiah (Julius Berger), PatrickOvie (Shooting Stars), Monday Obazee (Kwara United).

Midfielders: Sunday Oliseh (Borussia Dortmund), Blessing Kaku (FC Genk),Emmanuel Ebiede (Al-Yasri), Bosun Ayeni (Lyngby), Ode Thompson (AAGhent), Bina Ajuwa (Sporting Lisbon), Patrick Eseosa (Stade Nyonnals), BrightIgbinadolor (Sporting Gijon), Kalu Uche (Racing Santander), Emeka Igali (ACVenezia), Ogungbure Adewale (FC Nurenberg).

Strikers: Henry Nwosu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Okeke Chibuike (Union Berlin),Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal), Pius Ikedia (Ajax), Sunday Johnson (KwaraUnited), Henry Onwuzuruike (Guerth Futh), Victor Agali (Hansa Rostock) JuliusAghahowa (Esperance), Jonathan Akpoborie (VfL Wolfsburg), YakubuAiyegbeni (Macabi Haifa), Teslim Fatusi (Germany-based), Emmanuel Isah(Katsina United).

Reuters

Source: SOCOG