Colombia announce Olympic football squad

IANS

Rio de Janeiro, July 15 (IANS) Sporting Lisbon striker Teofilo Gutierrez and Levante midfielder Jefferson Lerma have been named in Colombia's football team for next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The pair were the only European-based players included in the 18-man squad announced by the Colombian football federation on Thursday, reports Xinhua.

Also included was forward Miguel Borja, who has helped Atletico Nacional into the final of the Copa Libertadores.

The 23-year-old scored four goals over two legs earlier this month as the Colombian outfit defeated Sao Paulo in the semi-finals of South America's top club competition.

Colombia has been drawn in Group B in Brazil alongside Nigeria, Sweden and Japan. They will debut in the tournament against Sweden in Manaus on August 4.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Cristian Bonilla (Atletico Nacional), Luis Hurtado (Deportivo Cali).

Defenders: Felipe Aguilar (Atletico Nacional), Deivy Balanta (Junior Barranquilla), William Tesillo (Santa Fe), Helibelton Palacios (Deportivo Cali), Deiver Machado (Millonarios), Cristian Borja (Santa Fe).

Midfielders: Sebastian Perez (Atletico Nacional), Jefferson Lerma (Levante-ESP), Wílmar Barrios (Tolima), Andres Renteria (Santos Laguna), Kevin Balanta (Deportivo Cali), Andres Felipe Roa (Deportivo Cali).

Forwards: Harold Preciado (Deportivo Cali), Teo Gutierrez (Sporting Lisbon), Miguel Borja (Atletico Nacional), Dorlan Pabon (Monterrey-MEX).

--IANS

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Edited by Staff Editor