The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the national U23 team will not participate in the 2016 Toulon football competition as a result financial constraints.
Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee of the NFF, Barr. Chris Green said the football house regrets the turn of events as they want the best possible preparation for the Samson Siasia-led side, but promised there will be quality friendly games ahead of the Olympics.
“I don’t think our national Under-23 team will be participating in the Toulon tournament as earlier planned because of obvious reason of lack of funds,” Chris Green said.
“We wanted the U-23s to play the tournament which will also see some other Olympic Games bound teams in action but circumstances denied us.
“We shall look for quality friendly games for the team and hopefully there will be funds then to prepare the team.
“The target is an Olympic gold medal and the NFF will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the boys deliver in Rio,” he concluded.
This leaves South Africa as the only African nation featuring at the 44th edition of the competition scheduled to hold May 18-29, 2016.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group B of the men’s football event at the Rio Games alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan.
