Nigeria Vs Japan:
Olympics 2016: Group B,
Date: Friday, August 5, 2016,
Kick-off: 2:00 UK.
Venue: Arena da Amazonia (Amazonas).
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Atlanta 1996 Olympic event champions, lock horns with Asian giant Japan for their first game in Group B.
Nigeria U-23 team will be making their 7thOlympics appearance, after they first showed up in the 1968 edition that took place in Mexico. The dream has they are now called mixed the last edition in London after giving a wonderful account of themselves in earlier edition in Beijing. The dreams six under the guidance of Siasia went all way to the final in Beijing, and are searching for their 2nd Olympics gold medal under the tutelage of same man in Rio.
Japan gave a wonderful account of themselves in the last edition, as they roared all way to Semi-final where they suffered a 3-1 thrashing from the hands of the tournament eventual winners “Mexico”. The Asian side highest heights was that Semifinal appearance in 2012, and are desperate in search of their first football Olympics Gold medal ahead of them hosting in 2020.
Nigeria: Team News
Going into the competition, Siasia picked the Nigeria Midfield Maestro “Mikel”, goal keeper sensation Daniel Akpeyi, and Usman Mohaammed as the team 3 over age player. Usman happened to be the oldest man in the squad and possibly the oldest football player in this year Olympics game.
Nigeria: Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3)
Akpeyi – Shehu, Madu, Amuzie, Troost-Ekong – Mikel, Etebo, Mohammed – Junior, Ezekiel, Umar.
Japan: Team News
Coach Makoto Teguramori going into the competition settled for 3 over age players who play their trade in the Japanese league. 27 years old Hiroki Fujiharu, 30 years old Shinzo Koroki, and 27 years old Tsukasa Shiotani are the 3 overage men selected for this one in Rio.
Japan: Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2)
Kushibik – Fujiharu, Shiotani, Muroya, Kamekawa – Nakajima, Endo, Harakawa, Minamino – Koroki, Kubo.
Nigeria vs Japan: Head To Head Statistics
Both sides history in the Olympics go way back into 19th century. The Nigerian team locked horns with Japan in the group stage of the Olympics event that took place in Atlanta. Dream team 1 defeated the Japanese side by a 2-0 score line as they finished 2nd on the Group D log in Atlanta.
However, Japan defeated Nigeria in their first Olympic appearance in Mexico. The Asian side enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 victory over the African side.
Moreover, these two sides last met in the 2008 edition at Beijing. The African team under the tutelage of Siasia got the maximum point against the Japanese Olympics football team in a competition the African side ended with the Silvers Medal.
Nigeria vs Japan: Prediction
Every team’s first game of any competition tends to point the way and height such team will attain in that competition.
This clash will be the 2nd of its kind in 8 years. The Nigeria contingent will however be tutored by same man who led to a comfortable 2-1 victor of the Asian side 8 years ago. This could serve as an additional moral and experience boaster for Dream team 6.
Just as earlier stated, the surprises every team first game of the competition produce makes it hard to predict who the pendulum of victory swings to. Regardless, the game is bound to produce a goal, with any of the sides fully capable of getting the maximum point.
Nigeria vs Japan: Tips
- Over 2.5 goals.
- Both Teams To Score.
