U-23 Eagles Must Beat Tanzania, Oshiomhole Ralies Support For ‘Em

Nigeria’s U-23 team, the Dream Team V, must win tomorrow’s match against the Young Taifa Stars of Tanzania at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State, otherwise they should forget about participating in the soccer event of the London 2012 Olympics Games. The Coach Austin Eguavoen tutored-side will go into the game with a goal deficit from the match played a fortnight ago in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Nigeria must win the fixture with at least two unreplied goals to keep alive the hope of competing at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Despite going into the encounter with a depleted team following injuries to some key members of the team, Coach Eguavoen has promised a goal feast after Tanzania surprisingly won the first leg, to consolidate on a reputation established by eliminating 2000 gold medalists, Cameroon, in the second round.

“Tanzania have no chance against us. Remember that the first leg was played at the end of a long season in Europe and some of my players were just coming from a busy season,” said Eguavoen.

“Qualifying for the Olympic Games still remains our goal, and nothing must stop us from achieving this,” he said of a country with a proud Olympic record, having struck gold at Atlanta in 1996 and silver medal at the Beijing Games three years ago.

Ekigho Ehiosun, leading scorer in the qualifiers with four goals, is back in contention after missing the first leg as he was with the national squad in Ethiopia for an Africa Cup of Nations fixture.

—Adebobola Alawode, Benin