Nigeria’s U-23 team were made to bite the dust as the team fail to shine in their final group B match of the Rio Olympic Games Men’s football after losing 2-0 to Colombia at the Corinthians Arena in the early hours of Thursday morning. However, what is more important is the fact that the team won’t be meeting Brazil in the knockout stages after the host team defeated Denmark 4-0 to sit top of group A with five points while Nigeria also top group B with six points.
Having book a ticket to the quarter final of the competitions, the Dream Team VI as they are fondly known in Nigeria went behind as early as in the 4th minute after a beautiful build from the midfield found unmarked Teofilo Gutierrez’s to net his third goal of the competition.
The South American team who needed a win to qualify to the knockout stages pressed on as they went in search of the assurance goal which eventually came in the 62nd minute after they were rewarded with a penalty that was calmly converted by Dorlan Pabon. The victory came as a relief for Colombia after drawing their against Sweden 2-2 and Japan 2-2 in their opening two fixtures and they will meet Brazil in the quarter final in what has been tagged an all South American affairs.
On the other hand, Nigeria, who will be gunning for a second gold medal in the men’s football of the Olympic Games will play Denmark in the quarter final on Saturday. For the record, the Denmark U-23 team mauled Nigeria’s U-23 side 6-2 during a Suwon four nation tournament earlier in the year.
It is expected that Nigeria would be hoping to avenge that defeat and also book a semi final ticket that will place them a step to winning the gold medal in Brazil.
