BY MONICA IHEAKAM AND PAUL EREWUBA
There are indications that FSV Frankfurt forward , Taiwo Awoniyi and three other players may not be on the Rio 2016 train following their performance at the Korea tournament.
The other players; central defender Erhun Obanor, fullback Stanley Amuzie, and goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, are at the receiving end of Coach Samson Siasia’s wrath and have been warned of possible replacement.
It was gathered that Siasia is miffed that a player like Awoniyi with so much potentials , failed to live up to expectations at the just concluded Suwon four nation invitational tournament in Korea.
Meanwhile, Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, has urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the Rio 2016 Olympics bound Dream Team, insisting that their performance at the just concluded Suwon invitational in Korea should not be used to judge the team.
Shorunmu, a member of the Super Eagles technical crew that won the South Africa 2013 Nations Cup told Daily Sunsports yesterday that the team’s showing in Suwon is not a true reflection of their quality.
“As a Nigerian, I would have expected them to do better in Suwon, but their performance is nothing to worry about. Sincerely speaking friendly matches are not ideal to test the true form or quality of any team.
It is better they don’t win in friendly games and go ahead to excel in Rio. Friendly matches or tournaments like the Suwon tournament are meant for the coach to assess his players based on what he wants and identify areas of deficiency, with a view to correcting them before the championship proper.
“So, of what benefit will it be to you if you keep winning friendly games and get the impression that all is well and then lose miserably in a major championship?
“For me, I prefer the team losing in such friendly matches so they can correct their mistakes and bounce back strongly at the Olympic Games”, Shorunmu stated.