Eagles move a step closer to qualifying for Rio Olympics following 2-2 draw with Egypt

NIGERIA'S Olympic team have moved a step closer to qualifying for the semi finals of the ongoing U23 African Championships currently taking place in Senegal after being held to a 2-2 draw with Egypt in their second match.

 

In the eight-team tournament that serves as the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Eagles known as Dream Team IV beat Mali 3-2 in their first match and now have four point from their two games. Only the top three teams in the tournament qualify for the Olympics and at the moment, Nigeria and Algeria are favourites to make it out of their group.

 

Last night, Nigeria took a two goal lead in the first half thanks to two penalties from Etebo Oghenekaro in the 20th and 30th minutes by ended up surrendering the advantage. Egypt scored in the 46th and 51st minute goals through Ramadan Sobhi and Mamdouh El Sayed, in what is now becoming a feature of the tournament.

 

In the first game against Mali, Nigeria took a first half three nil lead only to get pegged back twice following the restart. In that match they were able to hold on for all three points but last night, they ended up having to settle for a draw.

 

With this result, coach Samson Siasia and his boys have to beat Algeria in their last game to guarantee their qualification to the next stage of the tournament. In the other game in the group last night, Algeria defeated Mali 2-0 and are now tied with Nigeria on four points, while Egypt have two points and Mali, with no point in two matches, have crashed out of the tournament.