AFRICAN champions Nigeria have been drawn in Group B in
the 2016 Rio Olympic Men’s Football Tournament along with 1948 winners Sweden
and Japan and Colombia.
The draw for the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football event at Rio 2016 held on Thursday at the Estadio Maracana’s auditorium,
was witnessed by many top football personalities including Dream Team VI coach,
Samson Siasia, Sportsbiz247 reports.
Nigeria was placed in Pot 2 and by the guidelines could
not face another team from the same Confederation – Algeria and South Africa –
but the Africa Champions got quite tricky ties.
Against Japan in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in
Atlanta, Jay Jay Okocha scored the winning goal after Tijani Babangida had
given the Dream Team the lead late in the 82nd minute.
However, on this occasion Japan, who have qualified for 9
previous editions, finished in fourth place at the last Games in London.
Samson Siasia’s men will join the Olympic family for the
fiesta as Champions of Africa and should also line up as one of the hot
favorites.
Sweden are the European tournament winners, Japan won the
Asian version of the qualifiers, while Colombia beat USA in an intercontinental
playoff to qualify for Rio.
Sweden and Japan will be making their 10th appearances at
the Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament. Nigeria’s will be 7 – with a gold
and silver to show in the last six -, while Colombia will be making its 5th
appearance.
The Men’s tournament kicks off August 4th between hosts
Brazil and one of Africa’s flag bearers, South Africa’s Amaglug-glug at the
Estadio Mane Garrincha in Brasilia.
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