Dalung, Gumel, Ohaa hail Olympic Eagles

Chieftains of the Nigeria Olympic Committee and Sports Ministry have hailed Nigeria’s Olympic Eagles who dumped Sweden 1-0 to romp into the quarter finals of the Olympic football event.

The Samson Siasia-tutored side have shot themselves into reckoning winning two matches so far played. Japan were their first casualty getting knocked off of their way 5-4 despite the troubles of arriving late from their Atlanta base.

Umar Sadiq was the hero of yesterday’s game as the Nigerians dominated the game to the joy of Nigerians who were led by Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung and Chef de Mission of Team Nigeria, Chinyeaka Ohaa.

With the two victories, the Olympic Eagles have sent out strong words to their opponents in Group A, which comprises Brazil, Denmark, South Africa and Iraq that they are the team to be feared.

The focus will now shift to Salvador where the quarter final will take place at the Fonte Nova Arena on August 13 but there is still the last group stage match at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on August 10. As it stands, the Nigerian boys are likely to be up against the hosts in Bahia except the Brazilians lose to Denmark and South Africa who haven’t come to life so far in the tournament, beat Iraq in Sao Paulo or vice versa.

“The Olympic Eagles have giving us so much to cheer and to cherish and we urge them not to rest on their oars until the Olympic gold is won. We’re proud of them,” Gumel said.