Umar brace secures bronze for Nigeria

Nigeria scooped a bronze in the Olympic men’s football tournament after an entertaining 3-2 win against Honduras on Sunday.

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Johannesburg – Nigeria took the bronze in the Olympic men’s football tournament at Rio after an entertaining 3-2 win against Honduras in Belo Horizonte’s Estadio Mineirao on Sunday.

Samson Siasia’s side enjoyed a three-goal advantage shortly before the hour mark thanks to Sadiq Umar’s brace and Aminu Umar’s 49th-minute goal, but Honduras gave the African side a late scare as Antony Lozano and Marcelo Pereira reduced the deficit to just one goal.

Nigeria started brightly and put Honduras under early pressure. They came agonisingly close to taking the lead on seven minutes when Mikel John Obi found Aminu Umar, whose effort struck both posts. Umar had another good opportunity minutes later but was denied by goalkeeper Luis Lopez.

Honduras were not without their chances, however, and Nigeria shot-stopper Emmanuel Daniel was called into action to deny Alberth Elis on 11 minutes.

The forward then had a golden opportunity on 33 minutes when he broke through the Nigeria defence with his blistering pace but Daniel held firm to deny the Olimpia man.

The Central Americans were made to rue that missed opportunity as Nigeria took the lead just a minute later. Mikel demonstrated his splendid technique by dribbling into the box and finding Sadiq Umar, who fired the Africans into the lead.

Aminu Umar doubled Nigeria’s advantage four minutes after the break, while Sadiq Umar’s second of the game left Siasia’s side cruising on 56 minutes.

But Honduras soon showed they were not down and out. Lozano pulled one back for Jorge Luis Pinto’s side on 71 minutes, before Pereira cut Nigeria’s advantage to just one goal after heading home Oscar Salas’ free-kick.

The fightback was not enough, however, as Nigeria held firm to secure their first Olympic medal since Beijing 2008.

– ANA