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As the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympic Games football event enters the knockout stages, the wobbly defence of Nigeria’s Under-23 team, the Dream Team VI, has become a source of worry to Nigerians.
A cross section of football enthusiasts who have been following the performances of the Dream Team in the Games being hosted by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, complained about the huge number of six goals they conceded during the group stages, especially the two unreplied goals in the last group game against Colombia.
They warned that if nothing concrete is done urgently by the technical crew led by Coach Samson Siasia to make the defence water-tight, the Under-23 team may be on their way back home after Saturday’s quarter-final match against Denmark.
Some of those who spoke wondered why Siasia has yet to play one of the team’s reliable defencemen, Saturday Erimuya Keigo, since the Games started.
“I find it hard to understand why Siasia continues to leave out Saturday Keigo despite his quality and the fact that the defence line of the team has proved suspect,” said veteran sports journalist, Deacon Victor Enyinnaya.
He, however, took solace in Siasia’s assurance that every player in the team would be given a chance to prove himself and that concerted efforts are afoot by his crew to bring sanity into it the team’s defence.
“Who knows, the ace defender could turn out to be the much-needed antidote in the defence if the coaches decide to look in his direction,” Enyinnaya, managing Editor of Daily Sports online daily, said.
A football enthusiast who gave his name as Odo Precious toed the same line of thought. He asked: “Why are they not playing Saturday when he is one the best defenders we have in the team?”
“You can see that the team’s defence is not good. The goals they conceded against Japan and the 2-0 loss to Colombia speak volumes. We hope that Siasia will give everybody an opportunity to prove his worth. I will continue to pray for the success of the team and the entire Team Nigeria to the Rio Olympics,” he added.
•Photo shows defence ace Saturday Keigo in national colours.
