Caykur Rizespor of Turkey midfielder, Azubuike Okechukwu is back as skipper of Nigeria’s under-23 national team, to be assisted by ex-Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles’ captain, Kelechi Nwakali for Wednesday’s first leg Africa U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya at Stade du 7 Mars in Bengardane, Tunisia, sports247.ng gathered.
Olympic Eagles’ coach, Imama Amapakabo opted for Azubuike because the same player was captain of the squad before John Mikel Obi took over for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Amapakabo also noted that Azubuike is the most capped player in the new under-23 squad and captained the team at the last U23 AFCON, but missed the semi-final against Senegal due to accumulated cards.
Azubuike will be ably assisted by Nwakali, who captained Nigeria to win the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup and is now on loan from Arsenal of England to FC Porto of Portugal.
Nwakali was among the earliest arrivals at the Olympic Eagles’ camp in Tunisia on Monday, as he led in Taiwo Awoniyi, Dennis Bonaventure, Samuel Chukwueze and Okechukwu ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Montreal Impact of Canada winger, Orji Okonkwo was expected early Tuesday, with Italy-based Kingsley Michael and David Okereke, before the team’s first training session, a day before battling the Libyans.
While Nwakali, Okonkwo, Okereke and the other foreing-based players are all set to make his debut for the under-23 team, Awoniyi was in the squad to the [past U-23 AFCON in 2015.
