The Dream Team VI took on their Sweden counterpart in the second game of the Olympics following their 5-4 defeat of Asian Champions, Japan and had gone on to record a slander 1-0 win in turn booking a place in the quarter finals of the competition with six points and the top spot in the group standing very well guaranteed as Japan drew 2-2 with Colombia to all remain in 2 point a piece.
The Dream Team VI was able to break the deadlock following good works from Stanley Amuzie whose pin point left footed cross found the lurking striker Umar Sadiq who headed Nigeria in to the lead at 40th minute of the game as it proved to be the winner on the night for the team. With the Dream Team VI taking all maximum points on the night we take a look at some significant features from the match against the European Champions. On the note we evaluate the lessons learnt from the Dream Team VI victory over their Swedish opponent.
NIGERIA DOMINATED THE GAME
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| The Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel: the epitome of Dream Team VI dominance. |
The Dream Team VI dominated the game expectedly following a composed and organized displays against Japan not minding their traveling condition and yet again the West African was very typical in possession as the cumulated about 68 percent along the line in the game. This dominant performance of the team shows how good the team is and the quality of playing personnel in the Dream Team VI side.
With the quality of players like John Obi Mikel, Azubuike Okechukwu, Oghenekaro Etebo to name a few there is high tendency for the Dream Team VI to continue to hold sway in midfield as the ball keeping and retention of the players are really unquestionable as seen from previous games. Mikel the man with an architectural role in midfield can continue to string passes around connecting the team from one point to another is a true prove that Nigeria is the better team as they progress ahead with Olympics with all authority.
SADIQ DELIVERS YET AGAIN
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| Sweden U23 0-1 Nigeria U23: Sadiq Umar heads Eagles into knock out stage. |
The player who is viewed as the new Nwankwo Kanu was in the right place at the right time to nod home the Dream Team VI winner following a decent outing in Brazil at the Olympics. Nigeria has scored 6 goals so far in the Olympics with Umar Sadiq netting two and all on the first half.
The skillful forward modeled like Kanu have lived up to the billing as his touches and passes have been a course of worry for the opposing team. The ease with which he holds off his marker with decent link up play defines the kind of player he is as the young lad is brimming with so much talent and may have already made a massive impression for the Dream Team VI as it was his goal that booked a place for the team in the knockout stages.
On a personal note his carrier has been boosted as scout will keep an eye on him very much for his services in the near future. Umar Sadiq is a pure talent of a true Nigerian game.
NIGERIA’S COMPLACENCY
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| Skillful forward Imoh Ezekiel was one of the culprit as the U-23 side showed signs of Complacency against Sweden |
The Nigerian side dominated the game with clear condition and threatens the Swedish goal with all the fire power they could muster as they ran out with a 1-0 win later in the game. The Dream Team VI threaten mostly through who else but Etebo Oghenekaro as the former Warri wolves called the Swedish goalkeeper to action on a couple of occasion in the game.
Though the team showed attacking intent but there were some degree of complacency exhibited by the U-23 players especially when in transition as was seen when the Dream Team VI unnecessary slowed down a counter attacking move for a kind of tiki-taka patient build up where the space is there for them to run in exploit in the heart of Swedish defence.
There were complacency in front of goal as well as Etebo blasted painful wide at goal with the ball rolling away from goal with contempt when the Dream Team VI are just one goal up thus keeping Sweden alive in the game until the final whistle. That sort of complacency is very dangerous and awful and most be avoided in Rio, if the team will not kiss a good bye to their trophy Dreams at the Olympic games in next game.
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
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| Shehu Abdullahi and William Troost-Ekong were really impressive on defensive duty against Sweden. |
With the Samson Siasia led Dream Team facing Japan in the opening games and conceding 4 in the game irrespective of the jet lag ,it became a course of worry for the Dream team thus somehow overshadowing the wonderful display of the team following the traveling conditions and the superb attacking forays from the Dream Team but the Dream Team VI coming in with the confidence of the Japan victory to the Swedish game wasted no time to take initiative assert themselves well in attack and in the defence as they defended in numbers to the success of the team.
Defensive stability was key in ensuring a 1-0 win as the Swedish side threatened from set pieces and dangerous cut back into the box which Nigeria have to thank the fair-skinned center back William Troost-Ekong for clearing out the danger leaving no stone upturned against the European Champions. The defense was once again called into action as Sincere Seth blocked a Swedish strike from goal prompting media officer of the Super Eagles to ask on twitter “what is the significance of Sincere Seth last minute clearance of the line on the game against Sweden” as the U-23 held on the secure a famous in at the Olympic Game.
NIGERIA SEALS KNOCKOUT PLACE
Dream Team players congratulates themselves on a job well done as they zoom into the quarter final stages.
Nigeria seals a knockout place irrespective of the result of matches played among Nigeria’s opponents (Sweden 2-2 with Colombia and Japan 2-2 Colombia) as they lead the standing comfortably with six points with the second teams having 2 points in their first two games) which means that if the Dream Team loses against Colombia there will be not much difference as the Nigeria U-23 qualifies for knockout stages with top spot in the group which is an icing on the cake courtesy of Umar Sadiq header who put up a brilliant show to nod home the winner. Expect Nigeria to come into that game with much confidence as the pressure mounts on Sweden, Colombia and Japan with a bid to join Nigeria in second place as the Dream Team VI have already chosen the best position which is first place.