Rio Olympics: How Nigeria can defeat Japan

Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team play Japan in the opening game of their 2016 Rio Olympics campaign.

The team has famously been ill-prepared and there are suggestions that the Samson Siasia’s boys will arrive Rio late for the tournament proper.

Despite the setbacks, the Dream Team are expected to shine given the presence of some of the best players in the tournament in the squad like Mikel John Obi.

Siasia secured silver medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing and is in a second spell in charge of the U-23 side.

The former Super Eagles midfielder however failed to qualify the team for the 2012 London Olympics.

Nigeria’s star man is assistant captain Azubuike Okechukwu and he would be needed to form a real presence in midfield alongside Mikel Obi and Usman Mohammed.

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On the other hand, Japan finished fourth at the 2012 tournament as bitter rivals South Korea won bronze. The star player for the Japanese is definitely Arsenal striker 21 year old Takuma Asano.

The defense expected to consist of William Troost-Ekong, Kingsley Madu, Shehu Abdullahi, Stanley Amuzie will have to keep watch for the very fast attacker.

In friendlies that the Dream Team played prior to the tournament, a major talking point was the lack of goals from the attackers and Junior Ajayi (expected to start upfront) will have to be more consistent in front of goal.

The squad taken for the tournament is; Daniel Akpeyi, Emmanuel Daniel Sincere Seth, William Troost-Ekong, Saturday Erimuya, Kingsley Madu, Shehu Abdullahi, Ndifreke Udo, Stanley Amuzie.

John Obi Mikel, Okechukwu Azubuike, Usman Mohammed, Saliu Popoola, Junior Ajayi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Aminu Umar, Sadiq Umar, Imoh Ezekiel

The match against Japan’s U-23 team will be played on Thursday, August 4 at 2am.

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