Lillestrom striker Anthony Ujah has been called up to the Nigeria Under-23 squad for their 2012 Olympic qualifier against Tanzania.

Ujah has nine goals in as many appearances so far for the Norwegian team, and he tells KickOffNigeria.com he will be in camp by Tuesday afternoon.

“I just got a call-up to the Under-23 team and I will be in Lagos on Tuesday,” the 20-year-old says.

Ujah’s call-up appears to be to cover for the loss of Danny Uchechi, who suffered a muscle tear four minutes into the team’s international friendly against Costa Rica at the weekend.

“It’s sad considering the fact that we have a qualifier this weekend, but that is football for you,” coach Austin Eguavoen stated while confirming the injury. “We definitely would miss the services of Chima in the game against Tanzania, but we have players that can fill the vacuum.”

Uchechi, who has played in all the team’s qualifying matches, scored three of the 16 goals recorded by the team so far in the qualifiers.

That game, against Costa Rica, marked Eguavoen’s first loss as Olympic team coach. The former Super Eagles defender prosecuted the game with 12 outfield players and two goalkeepers after Gbolahon Salami, Nnamdi Oduamadi and Fatai Kehinde failed to show up for the game.

The team are expected to depart for Dar es Salam on June 3 ahead of the June 5 Olympic Games qualifier.


Meanwhile

Defender Gege Soriola has been called up to the Super Eagles as replacement for Yusuf Mohammed.

The Al Hilal full-back was forced to withdraw from the squad with injury.

Soriola was one of the stars of this month's Wafu Cup, where the team of domestic Super Eagles reached the Final despite a lack of preparation.

Soriola was one of the stand-out players from the tournament, although he blotted his copybook with a mindless challenge in the Final that earned him a red card, and ultimately cost his team the title.

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