Siasia celebrates “miracle” win
Nigeria’s triumphant U23s lift coach Samson Siasia atop their shoulders after Saturday’s defeat of Algeria
Nigeria’s Super Eaglets secured the U23 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday with a 2 – 1 victory over a stubborn Algerian eleven.
Nigeria opened the scoring thanks to a 14th minute penalty converted by captain Etebo Oghenekaro. But Algeria were able to even things up on the half-hour when Oduduwa Segun Tope scored an own-goal.
Ten minutes later, with half-time looming, Nigeria took what proved to be a decisive lead when hero Etebo scored again to break Algerian hearts.
The plucky North Africans came out on the front foot in the second period and should have levelled the match after 68 minutes when USM Alger’s Zinedine Ferhat had his penalty saved by Nigeria goalkeeper Daniel Emmanuel.
Nigeria had already secured an Olympics spot by making it to the final. Rio 2016 will give the team an opportunity to consolidate a proud Olympics record. They made Olympic football history in 1996 by becoming the first non-European or South American team to win the gold medal. They also took the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
However, the so-called ‘Dream Team V’ led by Austin Eguavoen, failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics after crashing out in the group stages of the 2011 U23 continental championship in Morocco.
Last weekend’s U23 success rounds off a superb 2015 for Nigerian football, having secured the U17 world title and the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite the U23’s success, however, coach Samson Siasia was disappointed with his squad’s preparation.
“From how we prepared, we did not deserve to win anything. It was just a miracle we won,” lamented the coach.
“We had to manage everything, from kits to what have you, for the past one year.”
He added: “Motivating the boys was not easy at all, it was tough but thank God we survived it.”
Siasia’s so-called Dream Team VI were criticised after the first two games of the tournament for letting a two goals lead slip in the second half after a convincing first half. Consequently the coach was selective in crediting those behind his team’s triumph.
“I dedicate the victory at the U23 championship to God and well-meaning Nigerians who were praying for us to succeed, but not the wicked ones who wanted me and the team to fail,” he said.
In the 3rd/4th place play-off South Africa took the remaining Olympic spot with a 3-1 penalties win over hosts Senegal, whose early form in the tournament deserted them in the latter stages.
The South Africans had goalie Jody February to thank after he supplemented his penalty save from Moussa Wague in normal time with three more in the shoot-out after the match finished goalless.
Phakamani Mahlambi hit the winning spot-kick to send South Africa’s men to Rio.
It will be the first time that both the South Africa men’s and women’s football teams have qualified for an Olympics.
