‘…to avoid Brazil at elimination stage’
Nigeria on Wednesday lost 0-2 to Colombia in what is believed to be a deliberate ploy to avoid host country, Brazil at the ongoing Olympics soccer.
The Olympic Eagles would play the Europeans rather than the hosts in Saturday’s last eight game in Sao Paulo.
After Wednesday’s final group matches at the Olympic Games, Nigeria will play Denmark in the quarter finals as Brazil rallied to an emphatic win to top Group A.
Group B winners Nigeria were on collision course with the Selecao Olimpica until the hosts defeated the Europeans 4-0 to emerge Group A winners.
New Manchester City signing, Gabriel Barbosa scored twice with both Luan and Gabriel Jesus adding one each to see the Neymar-inspired side get their first win of the tournament.
Brazil finished top of Group A with five points while Denmark were second with four points despite the pummeling.
South Africa and Iraq both crashed out after their 1-1 draw in the group’s other game.
Nigeria, Africa’s sole surviving representative in Olympic Football, lost 2-0 to Colombia but had already qualified as Group B winners following their opening victories against Japan and Sweden.
Despite Japan’s 1-0 defeat of Sweden in the other Group B game, Colombia joined Nigeria in the quarter finals.
The quarter final fixtures are as follows: Portugal vs Germany, Nigeria vs Denmark, South Korea vs Honduras and Brazil vs Colombia.
All matches will be played on Saturday, August 13, 2016.