National U-23 team coach Austin Eguavoen on Wednesday released his list of 21 players for the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers with the teams top players, captain Haruna Lukman, Ekigho Ehiosun, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Ahmed Musa and Odion Ighalo excluded from the squad.The competition takes place in Morocco from November 26 to December 10.Eguavoens list parades eleven home-based, nine foreign-based and one unattached player with five others on standby.The coach on Thursday charged his wards to justify their inclusion in the final list of players for the Africa U-23 championship by ensuring that they qualify for the mens football event of the London 2012 Olympic Games.Eguavoen to the players, "We all know that the nation is looking up to us. It was painstaking to get out the final twenty-one because you all have shown promise determination and talent."For the players that have been chosen, its now up to them to do Nigeria proud and justify their inclusion in the team."People ask what happened to the likes of Haruna, Ehiosun, Oduamadi, Ighalo and others. The truth is that I got the green light from their clubs and a host of others but surprisingly in the eleventh hour, some of the clubs changed their minds; noting that the tournament was not in a FIFA free window. But in any case I have confidence in the squad we are taking to Morocco."Meanwhile, ASEC Mimosas of Cote dIvoire striker, Kayode Olanrewaju, and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Daniel Uchechi joined the team on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.Atletico Belares Lawal Raheem also turned up on Thursday while Parma of Italy midfielder Obiora Nwankwo will join the rest of the squad later today.El- Merreikh of Sudan striker, Stephen Worgu and Hapoel Tel-Aviv of Israel midfielder Nosa Igiebor are scheduled to team up with their colleagues in Morocco next week. The Dream Team V will depart for Morocco on Saturday.The Olympic Eagles begin their CAF U-23 championship next Saturday against hosts Morocco.LISTGoalkeepers: Dele Ajiboye, Olufemi Thomas, Theophilus AfelokhaiDefenders: Kingsley Udoh, Markson Ojobo, Usman Amoda, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Edet Ibok, Suswam TernaMidfielders: Osas Okoro, Ayo Saka, Odah Onoriode, Obiora Nwankwo, Nosa Igiebor, Lawal RaheemAttackers: Jude Aneke, Kayode Olarenwaju, Stephen Worgu, Babatunde Micheal, Uchechi Daniel, Gbolahan SalamiStandby: Semiu Liadi, Papa Idris, Olabiyi Rasheed, Olaitan Otubanjo, Atu Irumekhai
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