Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM

The Dream Team VI have finally secured a medal for Nigeria at the Rio Olympics. Samson Siasia’s men defeated Honduras 3-2 in the third place play-off to claim bronze at the men’s football tournament.

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics

Source: Unknown

Striker Sadiq Umar opened the scoring for the Mikel captained side in the 34th minute after the Dream Team had fluffed a handful of chances.

Nigeria returned from the tunnel blazing from all cylinders and barely four minutes into the second half, Aminu Umar netted the second goal. Sadiq Umar extended Nigeria’s lead into three seven minutes later before Anthony Lozano pulled one back for Honduras in the 71st minute.

Marcelo Pereira nodded home Honduras’ second barely four minutes to go to put pressure on the Dream Team, but time ran out as Nigeria claim bronze.

It ended; Nigeria 3- 2 Honduras

FT: Nigeria 3 - 2 Honduras

90+ Nigeria hanging by a thread in this final few seconds of the game

87' GOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLLL!!!! Marcelo Pereira pulls another goal back for Honduras via a header from a free-kick from the right

83' MISSED!!! Amuzie finds Umar in the box but the AS Roma striker decides its better to play the ball back to where its coming from rather than at goal

80' The game has swung back in the favour of the Dream Team who are now controlling proceedings

76' Yellow card for Sincere for a push on an attacker just outside the box

73' Azubuike does well to cover and pick up a loose ball in the box and clears out of the danger zone

72' Honduras threatening more now, William-Ekong had to do well to throw himself in the line of a shot...defense looking shaky now

70' GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!! Antony Lozano pulls one back for Honduras via a header

66' Aminu Umar gathers a loose ball from the left and feeds Sadiq but the striker's attempt is saved

65' SAVED!!! Emmanuel Daniel does well to dive to his right and block a long range effort...ball is cleared up front where Nigeria have a chance

61' SHOT!!! Usman fires wide from outside the box after being fed by Mikel Obi

59' Fans are not singing to every pass made by the Dream Team...getting really interesting

56' GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!!!! Sadiq Umar makes it 3 - 0...he pounces on a Mikel Obi pass in the box, dribbles a defender and scores

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics
Sadiq Umar makes it 3-0 to Nigeria
Source: Unknown

51' Nigeria looking confident with each passes

50' GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! Aminu Umar scores the second goal  of the game after bouncing on a rebound

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics
Aminu umar makes it 2-0 for Nigeria against Honduras
Source: Unknown

48'COUNTER!!! Honduras launch a lightening attack and from a cross Daniel is almost caught out but he regains his composure and gathers the ball

47' MISSED CHANCE!!! Aminu Umar plays a one-two with Mikel Obi and another with  Sadiq Umar and feed Ezekiel but the later cannot convert with the goal at his mercy

46' Second half kicks off

HT: Nigeria 1 - 0 Honduras

Sadiq Umar with the only goal of the game in this third place match

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics
HT stats
Source: Unknown

45+ MISSED!!! A freekick from the left is headed at the side netting and the referee has seen enough action

44' CHANCE!!! Sadiq Umar finds himself in a good position but a defender does well to block his run

38' Dream Team continue to be impressive...a beautiful pass from Usman finds Imoh but the attacker takes too much time to control the ball and its bundled away

33'GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Sadiq Umar converts Mikel Obi's low cross cum shot from the right

32' WHAT A GLORIOUS MISS!!! A striker finds himself one on one with Daniel in goal and fired straight at the Nigerian shot stopper

30' Nigeria's goalie is down injured... he came a long way off his line to clear a ball but in doing so, he collided with Seth Sincere and injured himself

27' ANOTHER MISS!!! Ezekiel's cross from the right meets the head of Sadiq Umar but the tall striker cannot head at goal and instead sends his effort wide

24' WHAT A MISS!!! Imoh Ezekiel is found by a long ball over the defense... the attacker took too much time to control the ball and he shoots wide under pressure

20'SAVE!!! Daniel does well to punch a curling shot away for a corner...Shehu got himself injured trying to block that shot but he is treated

19' HEADER!!! Nigeria make an amazing attacking move which sees Shuhu Abdullahi free on the right, he crosses and its met by Usman and its just over...the midfielder injured his shoulder while making that header and he will receive treatment

16' Sadiq Umar penalized fora push from behind after chasing a long ball

16' YELLOW: Azubuike gets himself booked for a nasty foul in the middle of the park

12' INJURY!!! Sadiq Umar is down injured after a clash with the goalkeeper and the medics treat him...he is able to get back to his feet

10' SAVE!!! Dream Team under pressure and Daniel has to be alert in goal to block a drive

9' CHANCE!!! Sadiq Umar is fed in the center but the lanky striker cannot connect with a simple ball

6' WOODWORK!!! Mikel Obi does well to hold off a defender and pass to Aminu Umar on he left, the attacker takes out a defender and shoot but his effort hits the woodwork...ball falls to Imoh who cuts back for Azubuike but his shot is wide

3' Nothing of note early exchanges but the Dream Team are having all the possession

1' KICK OFF...

Nigeria XI: Daniel, Sincere, Shehu, Ekong, Aminu Umar, Imoh Ezekiel, Mikel (C), Sadiq Umar, Azubuike, Amuzie, Usman Muhammed

Below is the preview of the third place match between Nigeria and Honduras in the men's football competition at the Rio Olympics

- Nigeria play Honduras in a third place match

- The match kicks off at 5pm Nigerian time 

- Azubuike and Etebo are expected to return 

Nigeria failed to book a place in the men's football final of the Rio Olympics when they succumbed 2-0 to Germany in the semi-final on Wednesday, August 17, but the Dream Team Vi still has its sights on claiming the bronze medal.

Updated: Nigeria finally wins a medal at the Rio Olympics
Dream team line up before a match
Source: Unknown

The Olympic national team lost 2 - 0 in an intense match against the Germans and players have promised to make Nigerians smile by winning the bronze medal.

Their opponents, Honduras were roundly thrashed 6 - 0 by a Neymar inspired Brazil in their semi-final clash and if that game is anything to go by, the South Americans can concede easily.

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Star midfielder Okechukwu Azubuike, who missed the semi-final against Germany will return to the team after serving his suspension and striker Oghenekaro Etebo is also expected back into the fold after recovery from an injury..

Honduras play Nigeria in the men's bronze medal match on Saturday, August 20, at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The game kicks off at 5pm Nigerian time.

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
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