Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has reasoned Chelsea star Mikel Obi is angling to be part of the Rio Olympics after he missed out on Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Siasia did not call Mikel for the Beijing Olympics after he stayed away for the qualifiers.
"I guess that because Mikel missed out the last time, he wants to make up for it,” Siasia said.
“Not only that, the last couple of games he has played for the Super Eagles, he has been playing very well, and if he wants to be part of the team, of course he is welcome, but as I said we have to look at the positions we really, really need people.
“We are not going to select players because they play for the Super Eagles or because they are still under the age bracket.
“They have to compete with those players who actually qualified the team for the Olympics.”
Siasia confirmed that he has sent a provisional list of 60 players for the Games.
According to him, “if your name is not on that list, then no Olympics for you. That's why we put as many names as we can, we don't know the Europe-based players whose clubs would release for the Games.”
