Rio Olympics: Mikel to lead Dream Team

John Obi Mikel and Chippa United goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi have been confirmed as Nigeria’s overage players to the 2016 Olympic Games. A reliable source from the Nigeria Football Federation informed that coach Samson Siasia opted for two senior players instead of the mandatory three as competition kicks off next month in Brazil. “Samson Siasia has submitted his 18-man list for this year’s Olympic football tournament in Rio, Brazil and I can authoritatively disclosed to you that the coach opted for only two over-age players and they are Mikel Obi and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi”, the source said. Having missed the 2012 Olympics in London, the Dream Team would be hoping to win their second Olympic football gold medal with Akpeyi and Mikel expected to lead the quest in August. Mikel is expected to captain the team having missed out of the 2008 edition staged in Beijing, China where Nigeria returned with a silver medal having bowed 1-0 to Argentina in the final. The Chelsea star has never hidden his interest in playing for the Dream Team VI and it is not strange seeing him make the cut ahead of Odion Ighalo, Ahmed Musa, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona who had been considered for selection. Siasia’s lads are up against Colombia, Japan and Sweden in Group B and will begin their campaign against the Japanese on August 4 at Amazônia Arena in Manaus.