Ahead of the official start of the 2016 Rio Games, the Olympic men’s football tournament began on Thursday, with Nigeria and South Africa both facing opponents.
Nigeria began with a 5-4 victory over Asian champions Japan in a thriller that saw nine goals shared between the two selections in Brazil.
Sadiq Umar opened the scoring for Nigeria on five minutes, with Shinzo Koroki quickly cancelling that effort out soon after from the penalty spot.
Oghenakaro Etobo scored to restore the lead for Dream Team VI, but Japan replied through Takumi Minamino to equalise. Etebo then took over proceedings, with goals on 41 and 50 minutes giving him his hat-trick, before a fourth on 65 minutes making it 5-2 on 65 minutes.
Tired Nigerian legs and determined Japanese play saw two late goals scored through Takuma Asano and Musashi Suzuki, but it was not enough to change the end result, as the Nigerians began their Olympic campaign with a victory.
The Nigerians only flew into the country a few hours before the game, due to a week of delays and problematic travel plans, but the issues did not stop them from getting off to a winning start in Olympic men’s football action.
Meanwhile South Africa’s Under-23 squad played phenomenally well against the hosts Brazil on Thursday, holding the highly favoured Brazilians to a goalless stalemate despite having a player sent off in the second half.
Brazilian star Neymar was thwarted time and again by South Africa’s disciplined and determined defence, with goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune putting in a fine performance to deny Brazil a goal.
On 60 minutes Mothobi Mvala was sent off for a second yellow card, and life became more difficult for the South Africans, but they held on and earned a useful 1-1 draw against the hosts, who are determined to win their first ever football Olympic gold.
Honduras got the better of Algeria on the same night, beating the North Africans 3-2. The Central American team earned a 2-0 half time lead due to goals from Romell Quioto and Marcelo Pereira.
Algeria managed to cut the deficit through Sofiane Bendebka, but Anthony Lozano made it 3-1 for Honduras, before a late consolation goal from Baghdad Bounedjah ended the match at 3-2.
