DREAM TEAM VI CLAIMS BRONZE IN RIO

Nigeria's Dream Team VI defeated their Honduran counterparts 3-2  to claim Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics which comes to an end tomorrow, August 21. Sadiq Umar scored a hat-trick with captain John Obi Mikel providing assist in two of the goals.
The story of the Samson Siasia led side could be regarded as a super story of some sort.
Their training and camping in Atlanta USA became at a time a subject of controversy.  Their departure from Atlanta to Rio became even a bigger headache. Adrenaline ran high and those who are prone to hypertension avoided every story about them to give themselves some breathing space.  The mere mention of their name reminded one of ineptitude for which the country has come to be known.  They arrived the venue less than 48 hours to the first game against Japan.  Permutations began as to
whether with avalanche of disappointment in Atlanta coupled with effect of jet lag financial controversies among others they can indeed hold their own let alone win the match, but they won. Progressed from there committed some errors along the line and made some impressive moves also along the line. They failed to make it to the final but settled for a third place.  They can be said to have gate crashed into Rio but came out with Bronze medal.  One man called John Obi Mikel wore the captain's band. He played the role of an over  aged player and indeed took his job seriously as an elder brother he laid the passes when it matter most, gingered his brothers when they needed it and provided a shoulder for them to cry when it became necessary. You went, you saw and you conquered. You may have won Bronze but I choose to give you Gold with a big hug for John Obi Mikel, a captain that knows what it means to lead his younger ones to victory. CONGRATULATIONS DREAM TEAM VI

ROHR OPENS SHOP AGAINST TAIFA STARS

Super Eagles new Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr begins his outing against Taifa Stars of Tanzania in next month's 2017,
African Cup of Nations, qualifiers. Unlike in a real completive showdown, Rohr will not be under pressure as both teams have already been eliminated from the championship billed for Gabon.
The German nonetheless has named a 23 man Eagles squad that parades the regulars and who is who of the Nigeria senior national team, perhaps with a view to beginning on a victorious note on one hand and strategizing ahead of World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola come October on the other.
Olympic Team Captain and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel tops the list released by the former Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso coach.
The list has three goalkeepers, eight defenders, four midfielders and eight strikers for the clash which will be played at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo on Saturday, 3 September.
Midfielder Nosa Igiebor returns to the squad, alongside FC Porto youngster Chidozie Awaziem. Goalkeepers Ikechukwu
Ezenwa and Emmanuel Daniel, as well as Kano Pillars defender Jamiu Alimi are the local-based players included.
Also included are  Victor Osimhen and Imoh Ezekiel who made an impression at the Olympics
Others are Odion Ighalo of Watford, Moses Simon of KAA Gent, William Troost-Ekong, Leon Balogun and Ogenyi Onazi.
FULL LIST:
Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)
Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto,
Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir,
Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia)
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium);
Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)

NEYMAR SCORES FASTEST OLYMPIC GOAL

Brazil star Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympic history when he gave the hosts the lead after just 14 seconds in their semi-final with Honduras on Wednesday.
The Barcelona forward robbed Johnny Palacios and saw goalkeeper Luis Lopez’s desperate effort to clear ricochet off his chest and into the net for his second goal of the tournament at the Maracana.
Neymar’s effort beats out Canada’s Janine Beckie’s strike against Australia after 19 seconds in the group stages for fastest goal.
His bravery nearly came at a cost, though, as Neymar was winded by Lopez’s attempted clearance and briefly stretchered off to gasps from the crowd before returning to the field.

MIKEL EAGER TO FACE POGBA

Super Eagles ace and Dream Team VI captain John Obi Mikel can hardly wait to begin the battle for Premier league honours against Paul Pogba.  The Nigerian captain though still engrossed with Olympics assignment in Rio, dispatched a cheeky message to his friend and Manchester United new sign Friday informing him of his readiness for the battle ahead.
"Welcome back to the @premierleague @paulpogba - looking forward to facing you again my friend #EPL" said the Chelsea midfielder who is not likely to return to the premier league till after August 21 when the Olympics would have ended.
United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on October 22 and Mikel is hoping to repeat a trick he performed on Pogba during the 2014 World Cup when Nigeria met France.
Mikel clearly enjoyed the moment but Pogba ended up having the last laugh on the day as his header set Les Bleus on their way to a 2-0 win in their round of 16 clash in Brasilia.
Pogba is suspended for United's Premier League opener at Bournemouth on Sunday.  Should the Nigerian team do well enough to encourage Mikel to remain in Rio till the end of the Games, his return to premiership will be  against Burnley August 27, at the Stamford Bridge which incidentally would be his first premier league outing for new coach Antonio Conte.

VALENCIA DOWN NPFL ALL STARS 2=1

Hard fighting Visiting NPFL All -Star failed to stop their their Spanish counterparts Valencia from running away with a victory Wednesday night. The tie which is part of new found collaborative effort between the Nigerian league and the Spanish La Liga lived up to expectation as spectators were given enough to cheer about.
Valencia's Alvaro Medran shot the homers into the lead as early as the 10th minute. The lead however lasted for only 22 minutes before Enyimba’s Joseph Osadiaye equalized for All Stars.  Both teams maintained a ding-dong affair till the end of the first half with score at 1-1.
The first half however recorded its first casualty in Rangers defender Etim mathew who was injured and had to be substituted.  Rangers who monitored the match were quick to react while praying and hoping that the injury doesn’t turn out to be serious.
"Our vice captain, Etim Mathew is injured in the game between NPFL and Valencia and has been substituted. We hope it is not serious," the club said in the course of the match.
The second half could be said to have been used for showcasing skills and efforts by both teams to increase the goal tally proved abortive. However just when it was looking as if the game was going to end in a draw
Valencia got the second goal with just six minutes to the end of the match thanks to Rodrigo Moreno.

DOUBT OVER PELE'S VISIT TO NIGERIA

The proposed visit of Football legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele to Nigeria may be put on hold unless the 75 year old  recovers quickly from illness.
The former Brazil star was forced to withdraw last minute from lighting the cauldron to mark the start of the Rio games at the iconic Maracana Friday.
The three-time World Cup winner, is the most famous athlete in Brazilian history and was due to perform the coveted task of capping off the showpiece, however  the former Santos  star in a statement regretted that he is not able to take up the task because he is not 50-50 but prayed for a successful Olympics.
Pele said in a statement: "Dearest friends,
"Only God is more important than my health.
"In my life I have had fractures, operations, pains, hospital stays, victories and defeats, and I always respect those who admire me.
"The responsibility for the decisions is mine … I have always tried not to disappoint my family and the Brazilian people.
"In this moment I am not in the physical condition to participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
"And as a Brazilian, I ask God to bless all who participate in this event and that it will be a great success and end in peace," he said
The proposed visit billed for August 11-12 will focus on youth empowerment and development
It would be the second time Pele would be visiting Nigeria should he eventually recover fast enough to make the trip.  The first was in 1967 when Nigeria was neck deep in a civil war that lasted three years.

DON'T GAMBLE WITH YOUR FIRST MATCH: DISU WARNS DREAM TEAM

Former Technical Director, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Tunde Disu has challenged Coach Samson Siasia and his boys to do everything possible to earn victory in their first match against Japan August 4.

Winning the first match in a competition like the Olympics he said, serves not only as a ginger but will put the boys in the right mood to aim for gold.

He expressed delight that the team were able to play some quality friendly matches at home and in the United States before the kickoff, noting that the shape up matches must have given the technical crew ample opportunity to underscore the strength and weakness of the various departments.

""It is very important that they win the first match.  You can’t underestimate the magic of winning the first match in a competition like the Olympics, it puts the entire team in the right frame of mind and that can be very productive, “he enthused  

The former Flying Eagles coach said the teams in Nigeria’s Group viz Japan, Sweden and Columbia stand equal chance of progressing adding that accuracy and ability to convert chances created will be an added advantage for any team hoping to shine in Rio.

Nigerians who have been keeping tabs on the team are however hoping that reported last minute departure from Atlanta training base where the team had been stranded, does not box the team into a corner. The Nigeria vs Japan match is billed for 22.00 hours early Thursday, 2am in Nigeria. A source in the team’s camp confirmed that the team eventually left Atlanta about 34 hours to the match.  The flight is expected to last for about 9 hours 22 minutes leaving the team about 24 hours to refresh and hit the pitch.