Dream Team V1 head coach, Samson Siasia has
said he will concentrate on building a solid defence–line as the African
champions get set to tackle Group A runners–up Denmark in the quarter
finals on Saturday.
The team loss 0-2 to Colombia in their final
Group B game at the men’s Olympics football tournament Rio
2016. Speaking at the post match conference on Wednesday, Siasia said:
“Of course when you make too many changes, it won’t work the way you
expected. Going into the knock –out stage, that’s a different ball game.
If you lose, you go home, so all those mistakes we have been making
mostly in the backline have to be corrected. We didn’t do a good job on
the Colombian forwards. We really have to work harder on our defending.
“In
the first half, we had a couple of good chances and Etebo had a very
good one that he should have scored. But one good thing about him is
that he always put himself in good positions. He didn’t score today;
that’s football. Hopefully, in the next game, we can convert our chances
and defend better.”
On
his assessment of the Colombia squad, Siasia stated: “Colombia has
always been a good team, in spite of the challenges they faced before
coming to the Olympics. All the teams at this tournament are good; you
just have to take your chances when you have them. The Colombians took
their chances against us and are now in the quarter –finals.”
Also
on the injury to Oghenekaro Etebo, Coach Siasia said he would have to
wait for the verdict of the medical crew. On his part, Captain Mikel
John Obi said the team did not take the game lightly. “That’s football.
We are professionals and could not have under –rated the Colombians. We
will work harder ahead of our next game.”
The
Nigeria U23 delegation departed Sao Paulo on Thursday morning for
Salvador, where the team confronts Denmark at the Arena Fonte Nova on
Saturday evening. Meanwhile, the National Technical Director, Mr. Bitrus
Bewarang has arrived in Brazil to join the U23 team as they march on in
the quest for Olympic gold.
Meanwhile,
former Super Eagles’ assistant coach Bewarang left Lagos on Wednesday
night, aboard a South African Airways flight, and then connected Sao
Paulo from Johannesburg. He was due to be at the team’s camp in Salvador
by Thursday evening.