Speaking at a press conference a day before the Dream Team tackle Mali at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, coach Samson Siasia has insisted that Victor Osimhen deserved a place in the squad and has shot down speculation that the Ultimate Strikers striker replaced Isaac Success, who was not released for the tournament.

Siasia pointed out that Osimhen was the top scorer at the Fifa Under 17 World Cup and showed flashes of brilliance at the ten - day training camp in the Gambia, hence his decision to name him on the 21 - man roster.

“The young man (Victor) did not replace any body or made this team on emotions, he earned his place as he showed maturity in training, ” Siasia was quoted as saying by thenff.com.

“Besides, don’t forget he scored ten goals in Chile, and you don’t score such amount of goals in such a competition in error, I brought him here to show the world that what he did in Chile is no fluke.”

The Nigeria U23s will be in action against Mali on Sunday night, starting from 1945 hours (CAT) at Caroline Faye Stadium in Mbour.

Photo Credit : fifa.com