Nigerians hail U-23 team for defeating Japan

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August 5, 2016

    

Nigeria's player Mikel and Japan's player Fujiharu fight for the ball during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games men’s First Round Group B football match Nigeria vs Japan, at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus on August 4, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / RAPHAEL ALVES

Football enthusiasts in Nsukka, Enugu state, have hailed the impressive performance of Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team which beat Japan 5-4 in its first match on Friday at Manaus, Brazil , in the Rio Olympics.

The enthusiasts in Nsukka on Friday said the positive start was an indication that the team would do the country proud in the Rio Olympic Games.

Chibuike Ogummah, a secondary school games Master, said U-23 team beating Japan had sent a strong signal to countries in group ‘B’ and other teams participating in the tournament that Nigeria was a force to reckon with.

“The boys gave very good account of themselves not minding that they arrived Brazil some hours to the match.

“This good beginning is an indication that the boys will come home with the golden cup.

“I will be happy if U-23 plays their remaining matches with the team spirit and confidence exhibited in this first match with Japan,” he said.

Victor Udoh, a student at University of Nigeria Nsukka, urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the team so that God that gave them the first victory would continue to be with them.

“Nigeria’s defeat of Japan is the work of God because given the Dream Team’s late arrival in Brazil, many people already gave that match to Japan.

“The U-23’s first victory shows that the team and their handlers are determined to do the country proud and will not allow anything to distract them.

“With this good beginning, I am optimistic that U-23 will also defeat Sweden in their next match on Sunday,’’ he said.

Joy Ugwu, a civil servant, urged the Federal Government to ensure that everything the team needed was provided to sustain the player’ high spirits.

“Government should avoid anything that will demoralise the players and their handlers by providing them with all they needed to lift Rio Olympic golden trophy .

“Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora should continue to pray for the dream team so that as the team has started on winning note, it will also end up in winning its final match.

“The Dream Team and their handlers should know that this first victory calls for extra hardwork as other teams in Group B and other participating countries will now do serious preparations in any encounter with U-23; now Nigeria dream team has been seen as a tough team ,” he said.