I Don’t Know What I Did To Dalung – Siasia

The duo clashed prior to the Rio Olympic Games when the minister accused Siasia of taking the Dream team to a camp in Atlanta, USA, without the approval of the Sports Ministry, mocking the coach for engaging in human trafficking.

Dalung went ahead to bench Siasia from ‘handling the affair’ of the team, appointing team captain John Obi Mikel to take charge of the team.

This came few days after Siasia had complained about the poor working conditions for the Dream Team VI, as they prepared for the Games.

“The whole thing surprised me”, Siasia said in Johannesburg, while on a stopover to connect the final leg of the flight from São Paulo to Johannesburg and to Lagos.

“As we speak, I don’t know what I have done to offend the Minister. The whole thing is surprising.

“It’s funny. When he came, he shook hands with us and after shaking the players, he asked where is the coach? Everybody started laughing. We shook hands again and hugged.”

The 43-year-old further hailed his players and Captain Mikel Obi for their outstanding performance as they secured Nigeria’s only medal at the Games, adding that his team would have done better.

“The environment before the Games was not good but we resolved to weather the storm. The players gave their best. Without necessarily singling out players, Mikel was outstanding. He not only played well, he also motivated the squad with his leadership qualities. Also, injury did not allow us to use some other good players. Anyway, we’re grateful to win something for Nigerians who showed massive support to us,” he added.

Nigeria has now won gold, silver and bronze from the Men’s football event of the Olympics after a third place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The U23 team won gold in 1996 and picked silver eight years ago, also under Samson Siasia.