By Albert Akota
The New U23 Eagles coach Samson Siasia has promised to build a strong team’ that Nigerians will be proud of, as he gets set to resume work.
The Nigerian U23 side failed to qualify for the last Olympic Games in London under the tutelage of Austin Eguavoen.
But despite his recent appointment, Siasia has been down this road before – when he led the U23 team class of 2008 to a silver medal finish in that year’s Olympic Games after losing 1-0 to a Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria inspired Argentina side in the final and he has promised to mould another strong team for his country.
“I just want to thank God for the opportunity to serve this country again, and I will do the best I can to form a very, very strong team that Nigerians will be very proud of,” he said.
Siasia’s confirmation as the new U23 team boss was announced last Thursday, but he had hitherto been linked with replacing his former Nigeria teammate, Stephen Keshi in the Super Eagles.
Keshi succeeded Siasia in 2011 as the Super Eagles coach after the latter failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea. But after failing to land the Super Eagles job once, but getting the U23’s instead, Siasia says he still has to be thankful to God and the fans that have always supported him.
“Well, we all know what…but I don’t want to go through that but I want to thank God and Nigerians for their overwhelming support for me to return to the Super Eagles but only God knows why he brought me where I am, and I’m very grateful,” he added.
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