Nigeria’s Dream Team VI booked a place with Germany in the semi-final of the male football event of the Rio Olympics after defeating Denmark 2-0 at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil.
Nigeria went into the match without team top scorer Oghenekaro Etebo, who suffered a hamstring injury in the game against Colombia.
It was Captain Mikel Obi who opened scoring 15 minutes into the game, slicing home the ball near post after a good work on the left flank by striker Imoh Ezekiel.
Ezekiel went on to waste a glorious chance four minutes later, after he picked up the ball around the centre of the opposition half, and dashed on, dribbling past a wall of defenders to carve out an opening for himself, with Höjbjerg alone left to beat. However, he drove the ball over the bar, a waste that would see Denmark take control from then on, with the Dane holding 55 percent ball possession to end the first half.
Nigeria came out of the dressing the room the stronger side, pressing the Danes back in their half just like they started the first, but what would have been the first chance was Mikel’s blocked attempt at goal.
Stanley Amuzie was next, trying a long-range strike that was snuffed out by Höjbjerg’s sharp reflexes. That was a sign of what was to come, though, as Nigeria went ahead in the 58th minute when Aminu nodded home a Mikel corner.
Both sides went on to miss chances to score goals.
Victory means that the Dream Team will now play Germany on Wednesday in the second semi-final at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, but the will be without Okechukwu Azubuike, who picked up his second yellow card of the tournament.
