Mikel led the Dream Team to third place victory

Team Nigeria has registered its presence on the Rio Olympics medals table following the Dream Team VI 3-2 defeat of Honduras in Saturday’s bronze medal match of the Games football event.

A brace from Sadiq Umar in the 34th and 60th minutes and another goal from Aminu Umar in the 54th minute were all the Dream Team needed to overcome Honduras.

Honduras made efforts to equalise the encounter after going down 3-0 within 60 minutes of the match but could not stop Nigeria from winning its consolatory medal at the Games.

Two defensive blunders from the Nigerian defenders, however, enabled the opponents to reduce the score line but thanks to goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel who denied them every chance of getting an equaliser.

The win ensured Nigeria won all the medals in the Olympics football event, having won gold in 1996, Silver at the Sydney 2000 edition and now, a Rio bronze.

The victory also means that Coach Samson Siasia has won Olympic silver and bronze, having also led the Dream Team to the Sydney 2000.

Layi Adesiyan Osun State Director of Youths, Sports and Special Needs Dream Team VI for winning the only bronze medal for Nigeria.
Adesiyan advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to maintain the U-23 team for the next the Super Eagle.

“We celebrate Dream Team for the work well done. I was afraid when the Honduras scored their two goals within 20 minute. Assuming they got the chance to equalise, only God knows what would have happened to lovers of football.

“They have been representing Nigeria well in any football event, last year they also won Bronze medal in African games in Congo. In December, they won the trophy for the U-23 African championship in Senegal.

“They just won Bronze in Rio. We are proud of them .They would have won Silver or Gold if they had earlier received the necessary support from NFF and the ministry.

“These boys went far simply because of the love they have for the football and the nation. May God grant them the strength to represent us well in future encounters,” he said.

NAN recalls that Dream Team VI was drawn in Group B alongside with Japan, Sweden and Columbia.

The 2016 Olympics, which started on Aug. 5 will end on Aug. 21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (NAN)