Nigeria dream team made an extraordinary start to its
Olympic campaign, beating Japan 5-4 in Manaus on Thursday just hours
after landing in Brazil following a nerve-wracking travel mix-up. watch video after the cut
The
team was stranded in Atlanta for days amid a bizarre saga that saw
flights cancelled because of missed payments and because a plane was too
small, before eventually taking off on the morning of the game.
The
Nigerian squad eventually landed in Manaus at 2:19 p.m. on Thursday
afternoon, with the game against Japan beginning at 9 p.m.
However,
despite what would seem to be the worst kind of preparation, Nigeria
produced an inspired display to sink Japan. The contest was evenly
matched in the opening stages, with honors remaining even following a
frantic opening burst that produced four goals in 10 minutes.
Sadiq Umar put Nigeria ahead just five minutes in, before Shinzo
Koroki equalized moments later from the penalty spot. Oghenakaro Etobo
put the African side back in front, only for Takumi Minamino to again
make things all square.
But when Etebo put Nigeria back in front
after 41 minutes the tone was set. Etebo completed his hat trick after
50 minutes, calmly slotting home his fourth to make it 5-2 on 65
minutes.
There was still time for some late drama though, as
Nigerian legs, not surprisingly, faded late. Takuma Asano pulled one
back with 20 minutes to go, and Musashi Suzuki narrowed the gap to one
deep into injury time.
However, Nigeria’s night of glory was
completed seconds later when the referee blew for full-time, finishing
off a remarkable, and exhausting day for a team whose plight captured
international attention and sympathy.
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