Known as Dream Team VI, the team was always in control yesterday and beat the Danes with goals in either half thanks to skipper Mikel Obi and Aminu Umar finding the net either side of half time. Germany, who defeated Portugal 4-0 in their own quarter final will not be relishing facing Nigeria on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.
Coach Samson Siasia brought Aminu Umar into the starting line-up for the injured Oghenekaro Etebo, while goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, who was rested for the last game also returned. Denmark had rattled the Nigerians as early as the 11th minute when Kasper Nielsson’s ferocious volley crashed against the woodwork with goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel beaten.
However, the 1996 Olympic champions stunned their European counterparts just four minutes later with Mikel grabbing the opener after good work by the dangerous Imoh Ezekiel upfront. Ezekiel was a constant trouble for the Danes and he should have increased Nigeria’s lead in the 20th minute after stylishly evading his marker inside the box but the Al Arabi striker blasted his shot wide with only the Danish keeper to beat.
Denmark then intensified the pressure but keeper Daniel was on hand to thwart their efforts, first keeping out a goal-bound header in the 25th minute before saving from point blank range two minutes later. Nigeria held on to the lead until the end of the half, going into the break with the psychological edge of a lead.
Upon the restart, Daniel’s left foot scuttled a dangerous Denmark free kick in the 56th minute and then two minutes later, Nigeria went ahead. Left-back Stanley Amuzie was shattered as he watched his tricky volley palmed away after dispossessing a Dane off the ball but Aminu Umar’s powerful header off the resultant corner kick taken by Mikel, glanced past a sea of heads to put Nigeria 2-0 up.
Coach Siasia said the initial difficulties encountered by his team en route the ongoing Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games inspired the team to achieve success. It had been feared that the team would boycott the Denmark game because they were not paid their bonuses and allowances, which had been an issue for weeks.
Siasia said: “We all know it was not easy, nobody wants to be in the situation we were in weeks ago when we were still in Atlanta. However, your circumstances should not determine what goals you set yourself and what you want to achieve.
“It was very difficult circumstances and we struggled to get here but there is oneness, a team spirit and a willingness to overcome. We still have one game to go, so we are not worrying about Brazil now bit if we get to the final together, then we will see what we can do to make sure we get the gold medal."
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