Nigeria’s Dream Team

Amaju Pinnick, President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will be among the spectators expected to cheer the Dream Team VI, when it plays the Egyptian team on Wednesday at the on going Africa Under-23 Nations Cup in Senegal.

NFF, in a statement issued by its Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, quoted Mohammed Sanusi, as saying that the football house would give the team the necessary support to secure an Olympic ticket.

“We have a team strong enough to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. Samson Siasia, the team’s coach has been doing a marvellous job and the NFF will not relent in giving him all the support necessary to win the ticket, and ultimately, the championship”, the statement quoted Sanusi as saying.

“Sanusi commended the team for the 3-2 defeat of Mali in the opening match on Sunday, adding that a win over Egypt on Wednesday would guarantee the team’s place in the semi-finals.’’

A semi-final place could see the Dream Team earn a place at the Olympics, as only the three top finishers in Senegal would fly Africa’s flag in Rio.

The Dream Team currently tops Group B with three points, with Egypt and Algeria on one point apiece, and Mali pointless.

The Egyptians have promised to come out firing from all cylinders when the match kicks off at the Caroline Faye Stadium.

But Siasia, who won Nigeria a silver medal in the men’s football tournament of the 2008 Olympics in China, has maintained that he is taking it one match at a time.

Nigeria won the U.S., Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold.