ATLANTA- Georgia State junior Rashid Alarape earned the opportunity to train with the U23 Nigerian Olympic Team as they prepare for the Summer Olympic Games in Brazil next month, following an outstanding 2015 season. Alarape joined the team on Friday to begin training.

“Having this opportunity is surreal and I plan to make the most out of it,” Alarape said. “Hopefully with my performance in training I can leave a good impression and continue to be involved with the team in the future.”

Georgia State men's soccer head coach Brett Surrency contacted the Olympic Team's head coach Samson Siasia about the possibility of Alarape training with the team prior to the team's  arrival in Atlanta. Surrency's contact with the team laid the groundwork for this opportunity.

Playing for the team professionally would be a dream come true for Alarape, whose lifelong goal is to play professional soccer. Ideally, he would like to play for the national team as well as another respected club team.

Alarape earned a spot on the 2015 Sun Belt Tournament Team for his performance, scoring the winning goal against rival Georgia Southern to clinch a second-place conference finish as well as the comeback win over the Eagles to advance to the tournament finals.

The U23 team will be in Atlanta until the end of the week with Alarape training with them until that time. The Olympics opening ceremony beings on Aug. 5, with soccer competitions beginning on Aug. 3.