Etebo Scores Four As Nigeria Beat Japan In Thriller

Nigeria brushed off talk of a crisis in their ranks and edged Japan 5-4 in a Group B match of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Amazonia Arena on Friday morning.

The big news leading to the game was that the Dream Team VI landed at the match venue barely seven hours to kickoff after their departure from their training base in Atlanta, Georgia, was severally moved.

 Four goals from Oghenekaro Etebo and Umar Sadiq’s effort ensured that the African champions started the tournament on a positive note.

In the space of six minutes, the thriller procured four goals.

Nigeria scored first through AS Roma youngster Umar who cashed in on a rebound from Imoh Ezekiel’s goal-bound shot.

It was one-all two minutes after thanks to Shinzo Koroki’s goal from the penalty spot after Stanley Amuzie was penalised for a poor tackle in the box.

Etebo restored the advantage for Nigeria before Japan drew level yet again thanks to Takumi Minamino who placed the ball underneath Emmanuel Daniel.

 Amuzie then tried to atone for his earlier error with a powerful drive with his left foot in the 20th minute.

 Moments after, the flat footed Shehu Abdullahi almost gave the Japanese a gift but Nigeria’s blushes was spared.

 There was still one more goal in the appetizing first 45 minutes and it was Umar who spotted Etebo. The former Warri Wolves forward unleashed a perfect finish to the back of the net.


If the first half was a classic, then the second stanza was salivating.

Five minutes after resumption, Umar was hauled down in the box and the match referee pointed to the penalty spot. Etebo completed a superb hattrick for himself with his well dispatched effort.

 The Asian side troubled the shaky Nigerian defense. It took the bravery of Daniel to make their efforts futile.

Chelsea star and captain of the Nigerian side Mikel fired at goal with his weaker left foot as the 1996 champions pressed for more.

Six minutes after the hour, the scoreline was 5-2 in favour of Samson Siasia’s charges.

 Mikel was very much involved. He forced a mistake from goalkeeper Masatoshi Kushibiki, who came off his line out to stop Umar and from the poor clearance, Etebo drove the ball home from outside the area.

 Japan had renewed hope in the 70th minute when they reduced the deficit. Takuma Asano punished the African team who looked flat footed at the back.

 There was a nervy end to the match when Musashi Suzuki netted at the 4th minute of injury time.

 Despite the scare, Nigeria held on to edge out Japan in the nine-goal thriller.

 Nigeria Starters: Emmanuel Daniel, Stanley Amuzie, William Ekong, Muenfuh Seth, Abdullahi Shehu, Okechukwu Azubuike, Oghenekaro Etebo, Mikel John Obi (c), Usman Muhammed, Sadiq Umar, Imoh Ezekiel

 Reserves: Daniel Akpeyi, Erimuya Saturday, Kingsley Madu, Ndifreke Effiong, Popoola Saliu, Oluwafemi Ajayi, Aminu Umar

 Japan Starters: Masatoshi Kushibiki, Sei Muroya, Wataru Endo, Hiroki Fujiharu, Naomichi Ueda, Tsukasa Shiotani, Riki Harakawa, Ryota Ohshima, Shoya Nakajima, Shinzo Koroki, Takumi Minamino

 Reserves: Kosuke Nakamura, Shinya Yajima, Masashi Kamekawa, Musashi Suzuki, Yosuke Ideguchi, Takuma Asano

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : thenff.com