Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has said that his boys had to overcome a lot of factors including fatigue and lack of sharpness, to beat Japan 5-4 on Friday.
The Dream Team VI arrived in Manaus barely seven hours before their Olympics opening game, due to travel delays.
However, they had enough to see off the Asian champions.
“I just can’t describe what happened today. My boys defied science to win this game; what gave us this game was the mental toughness of the boys,” Siasia said after the game.
“For a team not to train for two days and put up this type of performance is a miracle. You know that when players are tired they tend to lose focus. That is why we conceded four goals.
“For now, all I can say is I just want to go and savour this victory with my players.
“We just won a game; we can’t and won’t allow this victory get into our heads. Our target here is to win the gold and this is just the first step of us achieving that aim.
“No two games are the same, for me this hurdle is over, when I wake up tomorrow I will then think of my next game.”
Siasia also praised the Japanese team and stated that they pushed his boys to the limit.
“The team we defeated is a good side; I respect them for pushing my boys to the limit,” he continued.
“I knew that towards the end of the game my boys were tired and barely managed to hang on.
“I will not blame any one of them for the goals we conceded. We have put this match behind us. I hope my team sustains this great form and even step up a gear in our subsequent matches.”
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