THE Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Alhassan Saleh Yakmut has charged the U-23 National Team, Dream Team, to consolidate on their 2-0 win over the Black Meteors of Ghana to go all out for the gold at the Men's Football Tournament of the 11th All Africa Games, on-going in Brazzaville, Congo.
Speaking in a telephone chat to the U-23 Team Head Coach Samson Siasia after the victory over the Ghanaians, the NSC DG said Nigerians have so much belief in the team based on its recent outings and that the team cannot afford to let the nation down after such an excellent run.
"The country believes so much in your ability to deliver, I also believe in you, but the only way you can justify this belief is to go out there and win the gold to make the nation proud, I know you can do it."
Charging the boys to be disciplined and remain focused, Yakmut said it's only by remaining focused that the U-23 boys can get to the peak of their career as this is just the beginning of greater things to come for them.
Responding, U-23 Head Coach Siasia thanked the Director General for all his support for the team and assured him that they have been well motivated by both the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation to go all out and claim the gold medal.
Meanwhile, the U-23 boys returned to training by noon yesterday (Thursday) to prepare for its second and last group game against Senegal, coming up on Saturday.
On its part, the Super Falcons have also qualified for the semi finals of the women's event, after a 3-0 whiplash of Tanzania's senior women team. Desire Oparanozie scored the first two goals before Esther Sunday added a third in the second half. It means the Falcons have the six maximum points from their first two games, having beaten host Congo-Brazzaville 5-1 on Sunday.
Desire Oparanozie now has six goals in the Women's Football Tournament of the Games, to be the leading scorer. Oparanozie was also Top Scorer of the 2014 African Women Championship in Namibia, won by the Super Falcons.
