Nigeria’s Under-23 football team, the Dream Team VI, Saturday drew 1-1 with Senegal in their second and final preliminary game of the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo.
The Dream Team were staring the barrel until the third minute of added time as the Senegalese took the lead in the 81st minute.
Ibrahima Keita was the man that scored the goal which rattled the Nigerians, overwhelming favourites before kick-off.
Mustapha Abdullahi scored Nigeria’s equalizer with basically the last kick of the game as the Dream Team snatched top spot in Group B at the death.
Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Stade Municipal de Kintélé, Brazzaville meant the Dream Team VI finished undefeated in the Group and amassed four points from their two group games.
The team’s spokesman, Timi Ebikagboro said the point did not represent “a bad result” but is looking forward to “improvements” ahead of the semifinal.
“We have topped the group and we would have taken that before we began the preliminaries.
“I will not say it was a bad result but hopefully there will be improvements in our play especially goalscoring by the time we play our next game,” he said.
Also, the Super Falcons suffered a shock loss to to the Ivorian opposite, Les Elephantes, by 1-2 at the ongoing All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
Falcons scored the match opener through Rivers Angels forward, Mercy Amanze, the West African foes leveled score off the foot of striker, Rebecca Amon Elloh while substitute, Nahi Jose grabbed the match winner from the penalty spot to hand her side a well deserved victory.
The hard fought victory secured the Ivorians the top spot of Group A on nine points while the Nigerians finished their campaign as runners-up on six points.
Saturday’s preliminary last match 1-2 loss to the Ivorians at the Unity Stadium in Kintele, Brazzaville meant that Super Falcons finished as runners-up in Group A and will now face Group B winners in the semifinals of the women football event of the quadrennial multiple sports showpiece in Congo Brazzaville.
Nigeria will now play the runner-up of Group B in the semis on September 15.
Meanwhile, former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Godfery Gaiya, as applauded the performance of Nigeria’s Under-23 male football team in final group match at the ongoing All-Africa Games (AAG) in Congo.
The Siasia tutored side qualified for the semi-finals on Wednesday following an impressive 2-0 victory over Ghana and Egypt’s withdrawal from the football event but needed the 1-1 draw against Senegal to top their group.
The Senegalese were almost coasting home with victory to the top of the group when they took the lead through Ibrahima Keita in the 81st minute.
But the U-23 Eagles fought back and snatched a late equaliser four minutes into added time.
Gaiya, however, said in Abuja on Saturday that he was not surprised at the team’s progression going by the antecedent of its coach Samson Siasia.
“Prior to the All-Africa Games, the team has been doing very well and I am not surprised that they have moved to Semi-finals.
“With the quality of players and team spirit in that squad, I do not really see any country emerging as a threat to them.
“What we expect from them now is to bring home a gold medal and by the grace of God, they will,’’ he said.
The Nigerian team who tops Group B with four points will now face the runners-up in Group A, who will be either Burkina Faso or Sudan.
