NIGERIA'S Men's Olympic football team will face Denmark in the quarter finals of the tournament after qualifying top of Group B yesterday following a 0-2 loss to Colombia in their final group B match.
Having already qualified for the knock-out stage and topped the group with two wins in their opening games, the Nigerian squad known as Dream team VI, went into the game without any pressure. Coach Samson Siasia thus made numerous changes, fielding a weakened squad, which eventually affected the outcome.
In a rather drab match at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Colombia beat a side that featured five changes to its starting line-up. Coach Siasia rested goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel for Daniel Akpeyi and handed Kingsley Madu, Saliu Popoola, Aminu Umar and Ndifreke Udo their first starts since the competition started.
It was the Colombians who got off the starting blocks with the better intent as captain Teofilo Gutierrez pounced on a pass from Diego Pabon to knock the ball past Akpeyi for the opening goal in the fifth minute. Colombia held on to the lead until the end of the half during which there were few chances.
Nigeria’s best chance fell to Oghenekaro Etebo in the second half but he scoffed his shot after a pass from Mikel. A raft of changes by Siasia, who brought on Imho Ezekiel, Usman Muhammed and Stanley Amuzie, was not enough as los Cafeteros remained solid in the back.
Colombia cemented their win late on after Akpeyi brought down Harold Preciado inside the box and the goalkeeper was lucky to get a yellow card for the late challenge on forward. After turning provider in the first half, Pabon stepped up to take the penalty kick and he wasted no effort in shooting an emphatic strike past the goalkeeper for the South American’s second.
Despite Japan’s 1-0 victory over Sweden in the other Group B game, Colombia joins Nigeria in the quarter finals. Colombia will face Brazil, the winners of Group A, while Nigeria will face Denmark the runners-up.
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