The Dream Team VI , Nigeria’s U-23 team will on Saturday, August 13, 2016 face Denmark in the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics Men’s football event after they lost their last group game 2-0 to Colombia in Sao Paulo on Thursday morning.
The South Americans were clinical in front of goal as an early first half strike by captain Teofilo Gutierrez and a second-half penalty from Dorlan Pabon gave them the much needed victory.
Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia rested five key players but started captain Mikel Obi and top scorer Oghenekaro Etebo after already securing top spot even before the Colombia match.
The Los Cafeteros took a fourth minute lead as unmarked Sporting Lisbon forward, Gutierrez, volleyed a cross from Pabon past Daniel Akpeyi who was making his first appearance in goal for Nigeria in the tournament.
The Colombians continued to pile pressure on the Nigerian defence as they grew in confidence – Akpeyi denied Harold Preciado’s close-range header before Pabon put his efforts wide.
The win over Nigeria earned Colombia a quarter final pairing against hosts Brazil in Sao Paulo as they finished second in Group B with five points while the Dream Team VI topped the log with six points and will travel to Salvador on Saturday, August 13, 2016 to play Denmark in a place for the semi final.
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