After missing out on a qualification place to the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, members of the National Under-23 team, have fixed their gazes on securing their place at next year’s London Olympic Games.

Ghana’s Black Meteors on July 10 at the Baba Yara Sports Complex in Kumasi, beat Nigeria 2-0, ending the latter’s quest to be among the eight nations that would play at the All Africa Games on technical goals rule. Nigeria had won the first leg in Benin City 3-1 but their defeat in Ghana, saw the latter progressing.

Dream Team coach, Augustine Eguavoen, while talking with our correspondent after the game, rued their exit but added that their loss had given them the chance to focus solely on the eight-nation Olympic race which holds this December.

“We have to step up preparations for the Olympic qualification because that is the only thing left for us to still contend for. Qualifying for the London Games is now a do or die matter. We must give Nigerians something to cheer this season for their loyalty and I believe that the players are up for the challenge”, said Eguavoen, who promised to make use of only the best legs for the Olympic assignment.

“We are going to use the best players because it is going to be tough and if we must succeed, only the best can do the job well”, said the Former Eagles skipper.

Also speaking, Captain Kingsley Udoh promised Nigerians that the team would secure their place at the London Games.
“We are a good team and we know that with hard-work and team play that we can go far in qualifying for the Olympics race. It is up to all of us to ensure that we succeed and make our country proud”, said Udoh.

Sharing his view-point, newly recruited Torino star, Nnamdi Oduamadi said that qualifying for the Olympics was not going to be a tea-party but insisted that the players have the quality to shine at the eight-nation tournament slated to hold in December.

“It is not going to be a easy but we are going to give it all it takes to shine”, said the former AC Milan youth prodigy.