Rio Olympics: Dream Team To Know Opponents April 14
Ahead of the upcoming Rio Olympic Games in Brazil, the U-23 Eagles will know their opponents when the draws take place on 14 April, FIFA said in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement also added that the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host the men’s and women’s finals for the gold medal scheduled to hold on August 19 and August 20 respectively. The stadium will also host the draws for the prestigious tournament.
“Draws for the men’s and women’s football tournaments will be made at the Maracana Stadium on April 14. The legendary stadium, which will host the men’s and women’s finals on 19 and 20 August, will see the groups defined for the competition that will be staged in seven stadiums in six cities,” the Statement on FIFA’s website read.
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Coach Samson Siasia’s stars will represent Africa alongside Algeria and South Africa after they won last year’s African U-23 Championship in Senegal.
Nigeria did not qualify for the women’s category.
The 16 teams in the men’s tournament, including hosts Brazil and 2012 winners Mexico, will be drawn into four groups, and the 12 women’s team will be drawn into three groups.
The Olympics will be played in 32 different venues across four regions of Rio as more than 10,500 athletes from 206 countries are expected to compete.
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The event officially begins with the opening ceremony on Aug. 5, though the soccer tournament starts a day earlier, and ends with the closing ceremony on Aug. 21.
Nigeria last won gold in the men’s football event at the Atlanta 96, in the United States.
