GOALS from John Obi Mikel and Aminu Umar ensured the
Nigeria Under-23 team, Dream Team VI defeated Denmark 2-0 in the quarter final
match of the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at the Arena Fonte Nova in
Salvador on Saturday.
After both sides were defeated in their respective final
group games, each had a point to prove heading into the last eight clash.
Nigeria were by far the most forward-thinking and took the initiative in the
opening half, swiftly moving the ball to either flank to try and get in behind
a sturdy Danish defence.
Imoh Ezekiel shone brightest for the Super Eagles, a
constant thorn in the side of the Danes. Indeed the No9 almost produced a goal
in the opening minutes, his blocked shot falling to Sadiq Umar, who could only
find Denmark's goalkeeper Jeppe Hojbjerg.
The Danes responded, with Casper Nielsen bringing the
ball down superbly on his chest, before hitting an effort at goal which touched
the crossbar on its way over.
At the end of the opening period, the Nigerians made
their pace tell. Ezekiel burst down the left-hand side and into the Danish
penalty area, before squaring across to Mikel, who had the simplest of tasks to
sidefoot home.
Into the second half, Ezekiel once again proved himself a
nuisance to Niels Frederiksen's side, twisting and turning his way past several
Denmark challenges on the left-hand side of the Danish penalty area before
opening his body and firing a shot over the crossbar.
Samson Siasia's team would have their second though,
after Mikel turned provider. The Chelsea midfielder curled a devilish corner
into the penalty area from the Nigeria left, and Aminu Umar rose to expertly
guide the ball past Hojbjerg.
Despite a late chance for substitute Oluwafemi Ajayi, the
Nigerians did not add to their lead, but progressed serenely through to the
semi-finals. The Danes head home without a medal, unable to match or better the
1960 side who claimed silver in Italy.
The Nigerians will face Germany in Sao Paulo on
Wednesday, which will be the first time the pair have met in an Olympic
Football Tournament.
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