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Governor Wike addressing members of the technical crew of U-23 Dream Team 6 at their training ground in Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike redeems dollar splash pledge to Dream Team 6 after 2-1 win over Congo

Governor Wike (centre) in a group photograph with U-23 Team (Dream Team 6) during their training session in Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike (centre) in a group photograph with U-23 Team (Dream Team 6) during their training session in Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has redeemed his pledged to splash dollars on members of the National U-23, if they win their Sunday’s Olympic qualifier against Congo in Port Harcourt. The Dream Team 6 won the match 2-1.

The governor shortly after watching the training session on the 40,000 capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Friday in Port Harcourt had promised the team dollar rain both for goals scored and margin of victory.

“We need to win this match and win convincingly if you score any goal you will go with $30,000 and if you win with three goals you will go home with $100,000. Mr President will be happy that you win this match,” said Wike.

With the slim victory at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, however, the Nigerian Under-23 team are walking a tight rope on the road to qualification for the Olympic games in Rio, Brazil, next year, after allowing Congo to score what could prove a valuable away goal in the first leg of their Olympics soccer qualifier match.

The Dream Team played well from the start, forcing the visiting Congolese to defend in numbers. Several chances were lost in the opening half by Coach Samson Siasia’s boys as they searched for the opener.

The pressure from the Nigerians paid off in the early minutes of the second half, with a quick double from a persistent Junior Ajayi.

The first came after Congolese ’keeper Christopher parried a shot from the edge by Saviour Godwin unto the path of a lurking Ajayi, who tapped in to break the deadlock.

Not long after, a smooth Nigerian move, with a succession of crisp passing, resulted in a cross from the left flank that ended in the head of the predatory Ajayi, who converted to send Nigerian fans into a frenzy of wild celebrations.

Siasia was lifted up into the air by one of his assistants after the second goal. His team tactics looked to be working to perfection. His boys were not just winning, but doing so in grand style.

But the cruelty of football reared its head for Nigeria, as Congo’s first notable chance resulted in them pulling a goal back. A breakout saw the Congolese spread the ball to the edge of the Nigerian box. A rash move by a Nigerian defender, who lounged into a tackle, when protecting his byline would have been better, resulted in his opponent eluding him and crossing for his teammate to score from a rebound after the Nigerian ’keeper had done well to save an initial shot.

Nigeria searched for a third, but it was not to be. There were some genuine penalty appeals that were waved away by the referee.

The return leg in Congo promises to be a real battle, as a 1-0 win would see the experienced Coach Claude Le Roy’s lads move a step closer to the Olympics in Rio del Janeiro, Brazil, at the expense of Nigeria.

 

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