“We want to carry on winning matches but this won’t be an easy game, they’re a League One side and it’s often hard to play against teams from the lower leagues”.
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Fresh from winning the bronze medal in the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 Olympics, John Mikel Obi has set his sights on qualifying for the FIFA 2018 World Cup Russia with Nigeria.
Mikel played a key role in the goals scored by Roma striker Sadiq Umar – who scored two goals – and Aminu Umar with the other, to give Nigeria their third overall Olympic medal in football.
Nigeria took three senior players to Rio, of which Mikel was one.
“Eleven seasons, Eleven trophies and I’m not done yet”, Mikel Obi wrote on Twitter. “I’m really pleased, really happy and I still can’t believe it”.
“This experience has given me the hunger to do it again at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020”. “For the [NFF], I think they just have to learn how to prepare for tournaments like this and make sure next time we’re ready and prepare very well”.
The coach added that it was amusing that when he met the Minister one on one after a string of good results, Dalung did not recognize him, even as he praised team captain John Obi Mikel for his outstanding performance at the competition.
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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 Nigeria captain says that the gift has been gratefully received by members of the squad, the majority of whom are under 23 and many of whom do not play for major clubs. The Japanese benefactor made good on his word on Saturday, flying out to Brazil to watch the team’s victory and presenting the cheques-one for $200,000 and the bonus bronze rewards of $190,000-to Obi and Siasia. When he came, he shook hands with us and after shaking the players, he asked where is the coach?.
