Nigeria’s Dream Team’s 2-0 defeat in its encounter with Colombia on Wednesday in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a wake-up call for the team, sports pundits have said.
The encounter which took place at the Corinthians Arena, in Sao Paulo, Brazil saw Colombia secured their place in the knockout stages of the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.
Sports analyst have pointed to Coach Samson Siasia’s decision to rest top strikers in the squad as responsible for their defeat. Earlier in the week the Dream team coach told reporters that: “For now the boys have done well and I need to make the other players justify why I selected them for this tournament. This is not a tea party so everyone must stand up to be counted, and the only way they can be counted is if they play well against Colombia.
Resting some starters does not mean we are under-rating the opposition,” stressed Siasia who is aiming to improve on the silver he won in Beijing, China in 2008.
He disclosed that the technical crew was working hard on the defence line, as the knock-out stages will see stingy defence-lines complemented by vicious attacking lines.
The match against Colombia was exciting, a first-half strike from captain Teofilo Gutierrez of Colombia and a second-half penalty from Dorlan Pabon ensured the South Americans join Nigeria which had already qualified for the quarter-finals.
Needing a win to secure their place in the last eight, it was Los Cafeteros that took an early lead through their captain Gutierrez. Pabon’s fine forward ball from the left flank picked out the unmarked Sporting Lisbon striker at the top of the Nigeria penalty box. Gutierrez then applied a neat volleyed finish to beat Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi and give Colombia a fourth-minute advantage.
The early goal gave Colombia the confidence to attack Nigeria’s backline and create more quality chances. In the 19th minute, Akpeyi denied Harold Preciado’s close-range header before Pabon caused another scare for the Africans after getting in behind the Nigerian defence before shooting wide.
Both Nigeria and Colombia have qualified for the next round.
