ETEDO PETER OF U23 TEAM NIGERIA
Nigeria’s
Dream Team yesterday qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games’ football
event, courtesy of a 1-0 win over hosts Senegal in the first semi-final
of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations played at the Leopold Sedar Senghor
Stadium in Dakar.
Oghenekaro Etebo’s goal in the second half of the gritty tie was all that the Samson Siasia led side needed to pick one4 of Africa’s spots in the men’s football event of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Jainero.
The Dram Team, who struggled to reach the knock out stage of the competition, winning one game and drawing two, as against Senegal’s three victories in Group A, dominated proceedings in the opening minutes, with Etebo Oghenekaro firing the first shot at goal in the third minute of play with his free kick heading straight at Seydou Pape Ndiaye in Senegal’s goal.
Ten minutes on, Ismaila Sarr’s pace beat Nigeria’s defence but failed finish brilliantly.
Within minutes, Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel produced two big saves from Ibrahima Keita and Modou Diagne.
In the last 10 minutes of the opening half, Daniel again was on hand to save from Keita’s header.
On the stroke of half time Daniel turned the villain when he upended Dieng in the box and Moroccan referee Jiyed Redouane pointed to the spot, but he (Daniel) made amends by saving from Keita’s poorly taken spot.
The restart had a mellowed approach and the first chance came on the hour mark when Sarr broke in a one-on-one with Daniel who stuck out his leg to make an improvised save.
In the 72nd minute, Senegal produced the drama of the game. Ousseynou Thioune was sent off for handling the ball in his box after a miscommunication with his goalkeeper Ndiaye left the hosts defence in sixes and sevens.
Etebo stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to score the winning goal and his third of the tournament - all from the spot.
Oghenekaro Etebo’s goal in the second half of the gritty tie was all that the Samson Siasia led side needed to pick one4 of Africa’s spots in the men’s football event of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Jainero.
The Dram Team, who struggled to reach the knock out stage of the competition, winning one game and drawing two, as against Senegal’s three victories in Group A, dominated proceedings in the opening minutes, with Etebo Oghenekaro firing the first shot at goal in the third minute of play with his free kick heading straight at Seydou Pape Ndiaye in Senegal’s goal.
Ten minutes on, Ismaila Sarr’s pace beat Nigeria’s defence but failed finish brilliantly.
Within minutes, Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel produced two big saves from Ibrahima Keita and Modou Diagne.
In the last 10 minutes of the opening half, Daniel again was on hand to save from Keita’s header.
On the stroke of half time Daniel turned the villain when he upended Dieng in the box and Moroccan referee Jiyed Redouane pointed to the spot, but he (Daniel) made amends by saving from Keita’s poorly taken spot.
The restart had a mellowed approach and the first chance came on the hour mark when Sarr broke in a one-on-one with Daniel who stuck out his leg to make an improvised save.
In the 72nd minute, Senegal produced the drama of the game. Ousseynou Thioune was sent off for handling the ball in his box after a miscommunication with his goalkeeper Ndiaye left the hosts defence in sixes and sevens.
Etebo stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to score the winning goal and his third of the tournament - all from the spot.
Tags
SOCCER