Rio Olympics: Five reasons Nigeria lost to Colombia

The Dream Team VI tasted their first defeat at Rio 2016 Olympics after Colombia struck two goals past the Nigerian team in the last game in Group B.

 However the U-23 team were already through to the next phase owing to wins against Japan and Sweden in their first two games in the group. 

Samson Siasia rested a few of his players giving players on the bench the opportunity to have a feel of the tournament in proper perspective. 

 Samson Siasia 

Avoiding Brazil and playing Denmark in the quarter finals gives the Dream Team an edge to knock out the Scandinnavian country when they clash on Saturday. Here are the five reasons Nigeria lost to Colombia 

1. Winning team changed: No matter how compatible a team might be, changing a winning side also makes the team drop competitively which was what exactly happened to the U-23 side. 

 Dream Team

Muhammed, Amuzie, Ezekiel, Shehu, were all missing as the Dream Team did not look menacing to their opponents and the chances created were few and far between where none of them were converted. 

2. Colombia came more prepared: Knowing full well that Nigeria were through to the quarter finals, the Colombians believed the Siasia team will play a more relaxed game against them. 

 Nigeria vs Colombia 

The South Americans covered all the spaces in the midfield whereby reducing the number of passes made in the match and the Nigerian team got frustrated afterward.

3. No rhythm: The national U-23 team lost colour especially in the attack, the defence and midfield were also caged as there was no fluency in their style of play. 

Mikel in action for Nigeria against Colombia 

Mikel and Azubike were forced to pass the ball back if there was no player free to get pass and the team had to re-start from Daniel Akpeyi in goal. 

4. Too many Errors: Possessions were carelessly given away in the midfield and the Colombians pounced on the counter as the Nigerian defence was cut open easily. The wing backs also ran out of ideas which led to several counter attacking moves made by their opponents making the Dream Team look ordinary.

 5. Etebo and Umar absent: The two star performers in the team were caged and out numbered by the Colombians giving them no breathing space to operate in the match. 

Etebo Oghenekaro has not scored a goal since scoring four goals against Japan 

The ineffectiveness in the midfield also affected the duo as they tried making individual moves but the their opponents were firm with the marking and kept them at bay.