Amao leads Olympic Eagles against Brazil 24 March

Taiwo Adelu

Coach Fatai Amoo, who was named by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, as the interim coach of U-23 national team on Friday, will take Nigeria to play against Brazil in an international friendly on 24 March as part of preparation for this year’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Chief Coach of the team, Samson Siasia has been moved to the Super Eagles following estwhile coach of the Eagles, Sunday Oliseh’s resignation. Amao, former coach of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, who has been an assistant to Siasia was however mandated to act as the interim coach of the U-23 team.

The NFF and the Confederacao Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) however confirmed Friday that their U-23 squads will play an international friendly match in Brazil on Thursday, 24 March.

“The CBF is happy to host the champions of Africa, Nigeria Olympic team on the 24th March FIFA date at 7pm at the stadium of Kleber Andrade in the city of Cariacica, Vitoria, Espirito Santo.

“The match will serve as preparation for both teams for their participation in the Olympic Games Rio 2016,” the statement from CBF read.

According to the website of the NFF, FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport said: “The match is sealed. We are happy to be able to swing this one and it will serve as good preparation for the Nigeria Olympic team ahead of Rio 2016.”

Both teams were involved in one of the most memorable matches in the history of the men’s football tournament of the Olympics, back in 1996, when the Dream Team came back from 1-3 down to eliminate Brazil in the semi finals. Nigeria beat Argentina 3-2 in the final to claim Africa’s first –ever Olympics football gold.