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BY JOE APU
FORMER Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu has given a word of caution to Dream Team VI head coach, Samson Siasia following the draws for the football event of the Olympic football event.
Reacting to the draw which pitched Nigeria alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan, Chukwu noted that as champions in their own right, it would be wrong of Siasia to dismiss them with a wave of the hand.
“All the team that have qualified for the football event in Rio 2016 are champions in their own right.
“That means that Sweden, Colombia and Japan should not be taken for a ride. It would be okay to respect all the teams but certainly not to fear them.
“The advantage with Siasia is that he has got the experience from a previous Olympic game, where he led Nigeria to a silver medal in Beijing 2008.
The NFF needs to assist him to implement his programmes and having conquered Africa, Siasia’s focus should be in the areas where he needs to improve upon to make his team stronger than we saw of them in Senegal championship.”
Africa’s other representatives South Africa were drawn against hosts Brazil, Iraq and Denmark in Group B for the men’s football tournament at this summer’s Olympics in Rio.
Brazil had never been Olympic champions and lost to Mexico in the final in London in 2012.
Three players over the age of 23 were permitted to take part for each team and a good number of Nigerian players based in Europe had indicated interest in playing for the Dream Team.
Holders Mexico are in Group C with Germany, Fiji and South Korea.
