The Nigeria U-23 team have qualified for Rio Olympics men’s football event after they defeated Senegal 1-0 in the first semi-final match of the ongoing Africa U-23 Championships on Wednesday.
The Dream Team VI had their only goal from the penalty spot as Oghenekaro Etebo slotted in calmly to give Nigeria the slim win over the hosts.
Wednesday’s outing was quite better for Coach Samson Siasia’s team who had been adjudged to be far less convincing in their earlier games.
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel’s heroics in between the sticks contributed a great deal to Nigeria’s victory.
The keeper made a handful of daring saves including the penalty kick awarded to the hosts in the dying minutes of the first half.
While the major mission of qualifying for the Olympics has been achieved, Nigeria will hope to go one more step by winning the Africa U-23 Championship as they await the winner of the other semi-final contest between Algeria and South Africa.
Nigeria missed out on the London 2012 Olympics and will be glad to be back now.
