Olympics: Nigeria beat Sweden, qualify for quarterfinals

Nigeria's player Sadiq heads the ball to score his team's first goal during the football match between Sweden and Nigeria for the Olympic Games Rio 2016 in Arena Amazonia, Manaus, Brazil, August 7th, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / RAPHAEL ALVES

The Nigeria U-23 football team on Monday qualified for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games football event after a 1-0 victory over Sweden.

Determined to dictate the pace of the match, the Dream Team VI went on an early rampage with Umar Sadiq and Mikel Obi forcing saves from Sweden’s goalkeeper, Linde Andreas, in the 9th and 10th minutes respectively.

Oghenekaro Etebo, who banged four goals past Japan’s goalkeeper in their first game of the competition,  was denied time after time by Andreas.

Sadiq finally broke the deadlock at the 39th minute when he nodded home a looping cross from Stanley Amuzie.

Both sides had chances throughout the game but could not find the back of the net.

Nigeria top the Group B table with six points  ahead of Colombia; who have a game in hand and a point, Sweden are third with one point, while Japan are bottom of the log with no point and a game in hand.