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Group B’s top two teams Nigeria (6 points) and Colombia (2 points) face-off today, August 10 at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, as the group games of Rio Olympics men’s football tournament rounds off.
While Nigeria is be looking to secure nine points and a 100% record in the competition, but to the Colombia, the game is a must-win for if they want to advance to the next round.
However, Colombia should not expect any favours from their opponents, with captain and Chelsea midfielder Mikel John Obi maintaining that his team will not lose focus on their target to win the gold medal.
“I had to take this decision to rest some players because we have qualified for the quarter finals as group leaders, and secondly I need to rest some of the starters because in the next phase there is a possibility of going into extra time. “For now the boys have done well and I need to make the other players justify why I selected them for this tournament. This is not a tea party so everyone must stand up to be counted, and the only way they can be counted is if they play well against Colombia. Resting some starters does not mean we are under –rating the opposition,” he said.
Subs: 18. Luis Hurtado (GK), 4. Deiver Machado, 6. Jefferson Lerma, 7. Arley Rodriguez, 9. Miguel Borja, 14. Sebastian Perez
Nigeria XI: 1. Daniel Akpeyi (GK), 2. Muenfuh Sincere, 3. Kingsley Madu, 6. William Ekong, 7. Aminu Umar, 8. Oghenekaro Etebo, 10. John Obi Mikel (C), 12. Popoola Saliu, 13. Sadiq Umar, 14. Okechukwu Azubuike, 15. Ndifreke Udo
Subs: 18. Emmanuel Daniel (GK), 4. Abdullahi Shehu, 5. Saturday Erimuya, 9. Imoh Ezekiel, 11. Oluwafemi Ajayi, 16. Stanley Amuzie
Source: naij
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