The Nigerian Olympic football team finally departed their training base in Atlanta for Brazil on Thursday after they failed on four other occasions to do so.

“The team have finally left for Manaus on a chartered flight,” said an official of the Nigeria sports ministry.

Securing tickets was a major challenge for officials, beginning with their first attempt to fly out last Friday.

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When they got a chartered plane for the team on Wednesday, it was “too small” for the squad and staff.

Coach Samson Siasia, who guided the country to the final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has insisted the delayed departure will not affect his team.

Gold medallists 20 years ago in Atlanta, Nigeria open their campaign on Thursday against Japan.

Sweden and Colombia are the other teams in their group.