Nigeria national U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, is in cloud nine following his wards’ qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The Dream Team VI secured a berth in the football event at the world’s biggest sports fiesta with a narrow 1-0 win over host, Senegal, at the 2015 CAF U-23 AFCON on Wednesday.
Siasia masterminded the young Terenga Lions’ downfall by putting up a tactical masterpiece to inflict a first championship defeat on the hosts.
The coach, who scored against same team as a player in 1992, was elated to see his wards replicate that feat and was more grateful for a spot in Rio.
And Siasia was quick to admit that they were lucky to snatch a victory against a more solid Senegal and thinks the “gods of football” were on his side.
“I’m very happy to win against Senegal again after the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992 and achieving our objective, which was to qualify for the Olympics,” Siasia told CAF official website.
“I think the ‘gods of football’ were with my team today because Senegal created most of the chances but they failed to score.
“Emmanuel Daniel (goalkeeper) kept us in the match as he made some brilliant saves today. On another day, we could’ve been embarrassed.
“We did the best we could because we had lots of injuries heading into this match but I hope that Senegal can qualify to Rio so as to have a strong African representation in Brazil.
“Creating chances and scoring them are different so I’m not concerned that we allowed Senegal to have the best chances of the match.”
Nigeria will now battle Algeria in the final for the second time in the tournament on Saturday, while Senegal face South Africa in the third place play-off.
The Dream Team VI and Algeria are both sure of a place in Rio while the winner of the third place-off will join the duo.
