20 June 2011
Nigeria Olympic team coach Austin Eguavoen rued missed chances against Tanzania, saying his team ought to have won at least 5-0 in Benin City.
Dream Team V beat Tanzania 3-0 Sunday to reach the final qualifying tournament for next year’s Olympics in London on a 3-1 aggregate.
Team officials lamented the fact that the team failed to make hay from the host of chances they created in the first leg in Tanzania, where they lost 1-0 a fortnight ago.
The team’s less than clinical finishing was again on display at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Sunday.
“It was not an easy game, but we should have won by at least five goals, if only our strikers had converted the chances that came our way,” said Eguavoen.
“All the same, I must commend my boys for putting up a good show of themselves. As you all witnessed the boys were always rushing to the touch line to have a change of footwear because the pitch was very hot, but with all this they brought forth the desired result.”
Eguavoen’s team got off to a bright start as early as the third minute of the second leg when Warri Wolves striker Ekigho Ehiosun headed home a perfect cross from captain Lukman Haruna.
All efforts by the Dream Team to increase the tally hit the brick wall of the Vijana Stars defence led by their inspirational goal keeper, Self Juma.
After several missed chance upon resumption of the second half by Ahmed Musa, Ehiosun and Nnamdi Oduamadi, the pressure from the Dream Team V paid off in the 55th minute, when Ganiyu Oseni slotted home a timed cross from Ehiosun.
Super Eagles speedy winger, Ahmed Musa, who was guilty of throwing away several chances, finally kept his cool in the 90th minute when he rounded off two defenders before slotting pass goal keeper Jackson Williams who came in for injured Juma.
The Dream Team V will now switch attention to this weekend’s first leg All Africa Games qualifier against Ghana, also in Benin City.
Dream Team starting XI vs Tanzania
Dele Ajiboye – Edet Ibok, Nurudeen Orelesi, Terna Suswan, Kingsley Udoh – Obiorah Nwankwo, Lukman Haruna, Ahmed Musa, Sone Aluko – Ekigho Ehiosun, Gani Oseni
Subs: Afelokhai Theophilus, Ayo Saka, Harmony, Ikande, Emmanuel Anyanwu, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Dimaku Tochukwu
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‘We should have won 5-0!’