Under-23 Team Battles Germany for Final Ticket

Nigeria’s march to another football glory will get further boost this evening at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Brazil when the Under-23 Team takes on Germany for a place in the gold medal match on Saturday.

Coach Samson Siasia and his wards have come against all odds to get this far in the men’s Olympic football here in Brazil. Just like the class of 1996 that won the gold for Africa for the first time, history is about to be rewritten as the John Mikel Obi led squad file out against the Germans. Yet, this was the same team that left Nigeria like orphans for a training tour of Atlanta.

The story of how they were left stranded in Atlanta because money was not remitted for their flight to Brazil from Abuja is no longer news. But the Never-Say-Die Nigerian spirit has continued to be the driving motivation for the boys.
They arrived Manaus, venue of their opening Group B game against Japan barely five hours to kick off yet surmounted all odds to pick maximum points.

The next game against Sweden appeared easier. Having rested enough from the fatigue of three-day going back and forth at the Atlanta Airport, Mikel led his colleagues to consolidate at the top of the group on six points with the 1-0 defeat of Sweden.

The last game against Colombia was not necessary so Siasia gambled, playing those who have not tested action in the first two games. The loss to Colombia had no collateral damage on the team but was suffice to let Siasia who is aiming to go past the silver he won at Beijing 2008 know the quality of his reserve bench.