U-23 AFCON

Gift Orban, 15 other players called up after Olympic Eagles age scandal

15:03 - 18 March 2023

Gift Orban have been called up to Nigeria's Olympic Eagles squad

Gift Orban joined Gent in January

On March 22, the Olympic Eagles will host Guinea in Abuja, before heading to the West African nation to play the second leg.

Red-hot Gent striker Gift Emmanuel Orban have alongside 15 other players, been called up by Olympic Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf, ahead of Nigeria's U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The country's national U-23 team were earlier this week, hit with a massive age scandal as 16 of the 30 originally called-up players allegedly falsify their ages.

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"When documentation was done, it was discovered that as many as 16 players have passports with different ages or, have ages different from the ones on the Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS). It's a mess, to be honest," an unnamed NFF official said in confirmation of the news.

Salisu Yusuf call up 16 new players

Now, head coach of the side Salisu Yusuf have named a new list of 16 players - all foreign-based - to replace the players asked to leave the camp.

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Success Makanjuola (FK Liepaja, Latvia)
Bello Babatunde (Future FC, Egypt)
Isaiah Ejeh (Mjallby Alf, Sweden)
Abiodun Ogunniyi (FK Auda, Latvia)
Monsuru Opeyemi Abdullahi (FC Vizela, Portugal)
Omole Akinyinka Olaoluwakitan (Athletic Newham, UK)
Owen Tega Udoh (UD San Sebastian Reyes, Spain)
Azeez Temitope Yusuf (Mjallby Alf, Sweden)
Charles Uba (Lillestrom FC, Norway)
Simon Omon (Clube Operation Desportivo, Portugal)
Ihekuna Maximillian Ugochukwu (FC Sfintul Gheorghe Suruceni, Moldova)
Chukwudi Goodluck Igbokwe (KAA Gent, Belgium)
Abass Saidi (Zagalata FC, Azerbaijan)
Ibrahim Buhari (IF Elfsborg, Sweden)
Samuel Amadi (Eramica Cleopatra, Egypt)
Gift Emmanuel Orban (KAA Gent, Belgium)

Salisu Yusuf's initial 30-man call-up

Olympic Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf

Goalkeepers: John Amah (Sunshine Stars); Nurudeen Badmus (Dakkada FC); Ifeanyi Nchekwube (Akwa United); Oriya Joseph (Lobi Stars)

Defenders: Christopher Nwaeze (Plateau United); Desmond Ojietefian (Shooting Stars); Okechukwu Chikason (Enyimba FC); Anthony Anieke (Akwa United); Samuel Olamilekan (Niger Tornadoes); Benjamin Tanimu (Bendel Insurance); Evans Ogbonda (Port Harcourt City); Umar Ahmed Farouk (Gombe United)

Midfielders: Daniel Wotlai (Abia Warriors); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Auwalu Naziru (Rangers Int’l); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Enyimba FC); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Taofeek Malomo (Shooting Stars); Samuel Chisom (Kwara United); Samaila Sarki (Bendel Insurance); Kumaga Suur (Lobi Stars); Inye Green (Ibani United)

Forwards: Munir Idris (Niger Tornadoes); Ahmed Jimoh (Kwara United); Ezekiel Edidiong (Remo Stars); Ifeanyi Ogba (Akwa United); Umar Ibrahim (El-Kanemi Warriors); Alkasin Deji Yusuf (Dakkada FC); Mojereola Suleiman (Sunshine Stars); Akile Monday (Lobi Stars)