AFCON U-23 Trophy Excites Samson Siasia

The coach of the victorious Dream Team VI has revealed his happiness following the success at the AFCON U-23 Championship and the gaffer has also hailed the team.

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 football team, Samson Siasia has spoken about his happiness following his side’s triumph at the just-concluded 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Senegal.

A double from tournament top scorer, Ogenekaro Etebo sealed a 2-1 win for Nigeria over Algeria in Dakar in the showpiece game on Saturday.

Victorious Dream Team VI Earn $12,000 Each

The sports ministry in Nigeria has really lived up to expectation after the minister for sports asked the ministry to pay the boys all owed allowances and bonus. $12,000 for each of the boys, it's big pay day.

Each Nigeria player was paid the Naira equivalent of $4,000 after they beat Algeria 2-1 to clinch the 2015 AFCON in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday night and this brings to a total of $12,000 each player was paid.

“We have been paid our winning bonus for the final,” a player confirmed on Sunday morning.

AFCON U-23 Championship Final: Nigeria Beat Algeria To Win Title

The Dream Team of Nigeria on Saturday night clinched the 2015 AFCON U-23 Championship after they beat Algeria 2-1 in the final in Dakar, Senegal.

Nigeria, Algeria and South Africa, who pipped hosts Senegal on penalties in a third-place final, will automatically represent Africa in next year's Rio Olympics.

Two goals by the tournament’s top scorer Oghenekaro Etebo was only halved by an own goal by Nigeria defender Segun Oduduwa to leave this contest delicately balanced.

AFCON U-23 FINAL: Nigeria vs Algeria Preview

Dream Team of Nigeria and Les Fennecs of Algeria will meet for the second time in this championship to determine who lifts the trophy at Stade Leopold Senghor in Dakar.

The two sides have already met at the group stage playing out a dour goalless draw -even though both sides were tentative and played safe so as to get into the semifinals.

Saturday’s final will be different because there is the added incentive of being crowned African champions and bragging rights before the next event in four years’ time.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Dream Team VI Relaxed Ahead Of Algeria Clash - Samson Siasia

Samson Siasia spoke to the press ahead of the final AFCON U-23 Final clash against Algeria. The Coach of the Dream Team VI stressed that they know the opponent and are relaxed ahead of the match.

"it has been a very long journey, with a lot of ups and downs, some good games and some bad ones that we have actually learnt from."

"I guess we have not scored 2 goals again since our last game we played 2-2, the boys have improved in the back line, I think we still need to do a better job playing tomorrow against Algeria, we know them very well we have watched their videos, we have seen them play, and we are now more relaxed because we have the ticket to go to Rio, I think we are going to have a better game, the fans will enjoy themselves "

AFCON U-23 Championship: Dream Team VI To Be Paid Outstanding Hours Before Algeria Clash

We reported earlier that the sports ministry of Nigeria ordered a quick financial intervention for the Dream Team VI in Senegal after they won the Olympic 2016 ticket. The players were earlier paid $100 by Samson Siasia. In the usual way of Nigeria the boys will be paid in cash as soon as the official gets to Senegal some hours before the final. Players to get paid in cash? Where is the CBN cashless policy? So much for this Naija..

Officials disclosed that sports ministry personnel, who will pay them will only arrive early morning on Saturday and ensure the team are paid before they step out on the Leopold Sedar senghor Stadium in Dakar by 8pm same day.

“The sports ministry officials are due in by midnight and thereafter they will pay the team,” an official specially disclosed.

Nigeria's Dream Team VI Qualify For 2016 Olympics, Set For AFCON U-23 Final

The Dream Team VI of Nigeria have qualified for next Year's  Rio Olympics after they beat Senegal in Wednesday’s U-23 AFCON semi-final in Dakar after a 77th minute penalty was converted by standing captain Oghenekaro Etebo.

They will now await the winners of the second semi-final between South Africa and Algeria for Saturday’s championship game.

A mix-up between goalkeeper Seydou and Thioune in the Senegal defence let in Kufre Ebong, but before he could shoot into an empty goal Thioune held on to the ball to be sent off for a professional foul.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Siasia Releases Team List For Senegal Clash

Samson Siasia has released the team list ahead of the big clash against Senegal. A win for Dream Team VI is crucial has a win over the hosts will give Nigeria an automatic ticket to the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and also a chance to lift the AFCON U-23 Championship Cup.

Two key players have been ruled out due to injury. The captain of the side, Azubuike Okechukwu is out of the game due to suspension, while influential winger, Stanley Dimgba and Taiwo Awoniyi will miss the tie due to injury.

The list still boast of quality players but U-17 fans favourite Victor Osimhen will not still start. See the list after the cut...

Olympic Qualifiers Head To Head: Senegal Tops Nigeria In Records

High flying hosts Senegal will test the might of West African Giant Nigeria today in the first semi-finals match today by 4pm. The Senegalese will have majority of their fans behind them in a 60,000 capacity stadium. Siasia's boys have only managed a win while Senegal has won all matches. The winner progresses to the finals and wins an automatic Olympics ticket for Rio 2016. The head to head favours Senegal ahead of Nigeria's Dream Team.

MUNICH 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, 1ST ROUND, 1ST LEG (NIGERIA 1-2 SENEGAL)

Nigeria first ever meeting with Senegal in the qualifiers for the football event of the Olympics was for the Munich 1972 Games.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Injury Rules Awoniyi, Okechukwu Out Of Senegal Clash

Taiwo Awoniyi could miss Wednesday's semi-final tie between the  U-23 Eagles and their Senegalese counterparts at the Africa U-23 Nations Cup due to injury

A reliable source within the team's camp confirmed that the Germany-based forward did not train with the rest of the squad  on Tuesday due to the injury and as a result may not feature in the game.

Already, skipper of the side, Azubuike Okechukwu is out of the game due to suspension, while influential winger, Stanley Dimgba, will miss the tie due to injury.

AFCON U-23 CHAMPIONSHIP: Nigeria Must Win Against Senegal

Samson Siasia has insisted that the Dream Team VI must beat Senegal who are the host of AFCON U-23 Championship. Sia beleives the team is close to picking a ticket for the Olympics and beating Senegal in the semi final clash will ensure an automatic ticket for Rio 2016.

Coach Samson Siasia has expressed his wish to avoid hosts Senegal in the semi-final of the 2015 African U23 Championship.

Nigeria U23 team take on the Junior Terrenga Lions who finished as Group A winners on Wednesday for a ticket to the competition’s final as well as an automatic ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics men’s football event.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Nigeria To Face Senegal In Semi-Final

Siasia's boys did their best to get the full three points against Algeria but the game ended in a goaless draw. Luck smiled on the team when the Malian team did the unthinkable by beating Algeria to render the outcome of Nigeria, Algeria match unuseful. Siasia now has an high task of stopping the high flying hosts.

Nigeria will face hosts Senegal in the semi-final of the U23 AFCON on Wednesday after they held Algeria to a goalless draw in Dakar.

The other semi-final will be between Group B winners Algeria and South Africa, who finished as runners-up in Group A.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Algeria Must Fall - Peter Onyekachi

Peter knows that Algeria must fall for them to keep their Olympics hopes alive. If Algeria refuses to fall the only alternative is for Egypt to lose or draw against Mali but many believe that the Pharoahs will trash the weeping boys in the Group. Peter and co understand this and they seem ready to make the Foxes of Algeria to fall in Senegal. It's simply a fight for Rio..

Nigeria’s under-23 team forward, Onyekachi Peter, has charged teammates that Nigerians will not take excuses for failure to overcome the Fennec Foxes of Algeria at the ongoing Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

The nation’s campaigners are involved in a do-or-die clash against leaders Algeria in Saturday’s last group match at the 60,000-seat Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal.

Nigeria vs Algeria: Injury Rules Stanley Dimgba Out Of Crucial Clash

Samson Siasia's led Dream team has recently suffered various set backs in their bid to reach Rio 2016. At the verge of getting pass the group stage the players surrendered a 2-goal lead which has now placed them in a tight spot for qualification. Siasia has been dealt another injury blow has one of the players he counts on has been ruled out of the crucial match against Algeria. 

Nigeria have suffered a major injury blow as the team’s most influential player at the U23 AFCON Stanley Dimgba has been ruled out of tonight’s decisive Group B clash against Algeria. A loss today could see coach Samson Siasia’s team exit the competition in Senegal.

The nature of Dimgba’s injury is not immediately known, but he will be dearly missed against Algeria as Nigeria are under pressure to get a favourable result to lift them to the last four of the tournament, which also doubles as a qualifier for next year’s Rio Olympics.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Nigeria In May Or Break Match Against Algeria

Its either Siasia's boys win or they maybe on there way back to Nigeria if they loose and if Egypt beats Mali who seems like the weeping boys in the team. Siasia is a slow starter and everybody will be hoping to see the fumbling Dream team VI team prove critics wrong against Algeria. A draw will see Nigeria out of the tournament if Eqypt wins Mali.

If the Malians get a draw or win against Egypt who are on 2 points then Nigeria might just stroll to the semis even if they loose to Algeria.Wait a minute, most pundits believe Egypt will white wash Mali which leaves Nigeria with the only chance of beating Algeria to qualify.
  
Nigeria take on leaders Algeria in a final U23 AFCON Group B match on Saturday in Dakar knowing that they cannot afford to lose the game if they are to stay on course for qualification to next year’s Rio Olympics.

AFCON U-23 Championship: Nigeria vs Egypt Preview

Nigeria will have her sights on a place in the semi-final of the Caf Africa Under-23 Nations Cup when they lock wings with the Young Pharaohs of Egypt at the Stade Caroline Faye in M’bour, Senegal today

With 3 points in the bag after a nervy 3-2 win over Mali in their first group game, the Dream Team will seek another win to ensure a place in the semi-final and one step towards a ticket for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Egypt and Nigeria were in the same group at the All Africa Games in Congo in September, but the Pharaohs pulled out of the football event at the last minute. Nigeria went on to win the bronze medal at the Africa sports festival.

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