Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team have been drawn against European nation, Sweden, South America’s Colombia and Asian nation of Japan in the men’s Olympic football tournament of Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The draw ceremony for both the men and women’s football was held on Thursday afternoon at the Maracana Stadium in Brazil.
Nigeria team led by Samson Siasia qualified for the Olympics after their heroic outing at the last Africa U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal last year. Siasia was the coach of the Nigerian Olympics Team (Dream Team IV), who won a silver medal for Nigeria, losing to Argentina in the finals by a lone goal. The country will be playing at the Amazonia Arena in Manaus in Group B of the Summer Games which holds this August.
Siasia’s Eagles will have their first game of the Olympics against the Japanese team on 4 August, play against Sweden on 7 August, tackle Colombia in the last group match on 10 August.
In other draws, Brazil will be playing in Group A alongside Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Iraq and Denmark. Brazil and South Africa are to kick off the men’s football with the opening match on 4 August.In Group C are Fiji, Korea Republic, Mexico and Germany, while Group D has Honduras, Algeria, Portugal and Argentina.
The women’s draws saw Brazil, China, Sweden and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Group E. Group F has Canada, Zimbabwe, Australia and Germany. In Group G are USA, New Zealand, France and Colombia.
The draws at a Glance
MEN
Group A
Brazil
South Africa
Iraq
Denmark
Group B
Sweden
Colombia
Nigeria
Japan
Group C
Fiji
Korea Republic
Mexico
Germany
Group D
Honduras
Algeria
Portugal
Argentina
WOMEN
Group E
Brazil
China
Sweden
South Africa
Group F
Canada
Zimbabwe
Australia
Germany
Group G
USA
New Zealand
France
Colombia
