Nigeria’s Olympics football team, Dream Team VI have topped Sweden 1-0 to qualify for the quarterfinal of the Rio Olympics football event.
Nigeria started well and left no one in doubt as to who was in charge. They held possession and piled pressure on Sweden’s defense and should have taken the lead earlier but Sadiq Umar who got on goal against Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Linde, was denied by the keeper.
It need to be said that things could have be different if Sweden had capitalised on its best scoring opportunity in the 23rd minute. Mikael Ishak broke through behind Nigeria’s backline, but his clumsy attempt at volley went wide of the goal.
Nigeria’s Oghenekaro Etebo, four goals hero in the match against Japan, should have put his country ahead in the 36th minute. Imoh Ezekiel found Etebo wide open inside the box, but he headed wide over the crossbar.
However, four minutes later, Umar put Nigeria in front. He nodded home a Stanley Amuzie’s curling cross.
Nigeria came back from the break stronger, determined to put the match beyond Sweden, whose keeper, Linde was forced into multiple diving saves to deny Nigeria.
He denied Captain John Obi Mikel’s powerful strike that had looked goal bound. And minutes later, Linde again got his fingertips to an Etebo shot.
Nigeria now has six points. Sweden remains at one point, with a game in hand.They must now beat Japan, who played another 2-2 draw against Japan in the other match of the group.
While Colombia need to overcome a strong Nigerian team midnight (CET) on Tuesday to go through.
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