DREAM Team coach, Samson Siasia says his side must defend well against Demark to stand the chance of playing in the Rio 2016 men's football event semis, reports NaijaSportsXtra.blogspot.com.
The Group B leaders failed to make a three out of three wins after losing 2-0 to South Americas Columbia on Wednesday night.
In a post match media chat, a not too happy Siasia said: "Of course when you make too many changes, it won't work the way you expected. Going into the knock –out stage, that's a different ball game. If you lose, you go home, so all those mistakes we have been making mostly in the backline have to be corrected. We didn't do a good job on the Colombian forwards. We really have to work harder on our defending.
"In the first half, we had a couple of good chances and Etebo had a very good one that he should have scored. But one good thing about him is that he always put himself in good positions. He didn't score today; that's football. Hopefully, in the next game, we can convert our chances and defend better."
On the injury to Oghenekaro Etebo, Coach Siasia said he would have to wait for the verdict of the medical crew. On his part, Captain Mikel John Obi said the team did not take the game lightly. “That’s football. We are professionals and could not have under –rated the Colombians. We will work harder ahead of our next game.”
The Nigeria U23 delegation departed Sao Paulo on Thursday morning for Salvador, where the team confronts Denmark at the Arena Fonte Nova on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, the National Technical Director, Mr. Bitrus Bewarang has arrived in Brazil to join the U23 team as they march on in the quest for Olympic gold.
