Beijing 2008 - Nigeria crush Belgium to reach final

Eurosport - Tue, 19 Aug 14:03:00 2008

Nigeria thumped surprise package Belgium 4-1 to reach the Olympic final for the first time since winning the tournament 12 years ago.

FOOTBALL 2008 Beijing Olympics Nigeria Striker Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi - 0

Striker Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored twice in the second half after Olubayo Adefemi had given the exuberant but erratic Africans an early lead.

Chibuzor Okonkwo completed the rout while Victor Anchebi sidefooted wide with the goal at his mercy for arguably the worst miss of the competition.

Belgium, surprise winners over Italy in the quarter-finals, were on equal terms for the first hour but then fell apart.

The Olympic tournament is restricted to under-23 teams with three overage players permitted per side.

Nigeria, publicly criticised by coach Samson Siasia for lack of discipline earlier in the tournament, went ahead in the 17th minute when Okonkwo's shot hit a defender and fell nicely into the path of Adefemi who stroked the ball home from 12 metres.

Solomon Okoronkwo wasted another Nigerian chance when he broke clear of the Belgian defence but shot across the face of goal.

Then Peter Odemwingie turned the ball wide after Ogbuke Obasi slipped past his marker with some clever stepovers.

Belgium made a lively start to the second half with Faris Haroun blasting the ball against the crossbar and Tom De Mul forcing Ambruse Vanzekin to make a difficult save in successive attacks.

Nigeria increased their lead in the 59th minute when substitute Anichebe rolled the ball into the penalty area and Ogbuke Obasi slipped the offside trap to sidefoot home.

Long-range goals from Ogbuke Obasi and Okonkwo doubled Nigeria's tally in the last 20 minutes before substitute Laurent Ciman rifled a late consolation for Belgium.

Reuters

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  1. Itshayyy NA WAW OOOOOO Nigeria RULES!!!!!!!One of the­ best teams ever keep up the good effort and skill and­ we will all celebrate on Saturday all Drinks r on me­ folks(I am starting to buy crates of Star Bear)!!!!Bye­ and God Bless Nigeria always.(Proud Oyibo Nigerian)

    From pre_dator72, on Wed 20 Aug 7:01PM
  2. una carry old men play ball u dey hapi becos u beat­ small pickin .....u supose get shame..anyway wen u meet­ una oga on saturday u go know

    From olabisimakanjuola, on Wed 20 Aug 6:37PM
  3. Naija people I greet una oooooh. The Europeans­ don't know anything. They don't like Naija to­ reach this far. The reporter who calls our players­ 'eratic' is a stupid man, in fact the worst­ idiot on planet earth. I would have loved Eurosports­ not to cover anything concerning Naija because their­ attention were glued on Argentina and Brazil to make­ final. They hate us Nigerians and Africa. But God­ Almighty has shamed them. They must eat their vomits­ come Saturday. They don't know that without African­ there is not football anywhere in the world. Any league­ an African players play in is always a must-watch cos­ they add beauty, entertainment and competiveness plus­ class. The whitemen think they know something, but­ truly they know nothing, absolutely nothing. Their­ heads are hollowed, coconut with rotten waters. So my­ fellow Naijans, I dey thank una for all the supports­ una dey give our boys. Make una continue to pray for­ them until them bring the gold home.

    From Luxy, on Wed 20 Aug 6:23PM
  4. I think eurosport is even disappointed to see Nigeria­ this far because the coverage is miserable. It's­ all been about Brazil and Argentina. Nigeria is greater­ and bigger than Argentina in everything. Be ready to­ salute the champions Nigeria come saturday.
    Ndubuisi­ Ekwelogbe

    From Stanley Wash. H, on Wed 20 Aug 5:25PM
  5. NA SHAME UNA NO GET STUPID MAN SAY USING DAT YEYE WORD­ "ERRATIC"NA FOOL YOU BE,SEE MAKE I TELL U­ NAIJA DON FIRST CARRY OLYMPIC FOR ATLANTIC 96,FOOOL NA­ EM YOU BE.
    LATERRRRRRRRRRRR

    From ()()()(), on Wed 20 Aug 4:50PM
  6. a win is a win and a lose is a lose...the nigerians won­ 4 goals to 1 and y'all call the @#$% erratic? but­ what ya don't don't know is haters makes us­ famous

    From Bryt...., on Wed 20 Aug 3:42PM
  7. We've not won anything since this game started but­ I know that this time the Nigerians players are going­ to bring something home. You can imagin the giant of­ Africa have not won even bronze in this so call olypic­ game but other countries are winning gold, silver and­ bronze even the so call Agentina have won all this­ things and they are boyant enough to come and fight us­ let see what will happen on saturday no bi so next­ 2morrow. Even that person that is undirecting Nigeria­ by call himself erratic how will I blame him he never­ knew that without African no football even when you­ asked him the meaning of that word he will tell you­ that he his coming,those empty drums talk while­ Africans are talking, look they have not brush their­ teeth 4 2 weeks cann't you see his teeth very­ colourful and dirty. Let me hear hear that next time­ I'll tell him that I've Green Card to his­ country free of charge. KUDOS,CONGRATS,UNU A WA GO, YOU­ GUYS HAVE TRIED. All I know is that this cup or Gold is­ coming to Nigeria/Africa. So DREAM TEAM GO FOR THAT­ GOLD MEDAL I LUV YOU GUYS.

    From ebyebyilechie, on Wed 20 Aug 3:27PM
  8. We've not won anything since this game started but­ I know that this time the Nigerians players are going­ to bring something home. You can imagin the giant of­ Africa have not won even bronze in this so call olypic­ game but other countries are winning gold, silver and­ bronze even the so call Agentina have won all this­ things and they are boyant enough to come and fight us­ let see what will happen on saturday no bi so next­ 2morrow. Even that person that is undirecting Nigeria­ by call himself erratic how will I blame him he never­ knew that without African no football even when you­ asked him the meaning of that word he will tell you­ that he his coming,those empty drums talk while­ Africans are talking, look they have not brush their­ teeth 4 2 weeks cann't you see his teeth very­ colourful and dirty. Let me hear hear that next time­ I'll tell him that I've Green Card to his­ country free of charge. KUDOS,CONGRATS,UNU A WA GO, YOU­ GUYS HAVE TRIED. All I know is that this cup or Gold is­ coming to Nigeria/Africa. So DREAM TEAM GO FOR THAT­ GOLD MEDAL I LUV YOU GUYS.

    From ebyebyilechie, on Wed 20 Aug 3:27PM
  9. We've not won anything since this game started but­ I know that this time the Nigerians players are going­ to bring something home. You can imagin the giant of­ Africa have not won even bronze in this so call olypic­ game but other countries are winning gold, silver and­ bronze even the so call Agentina have won all this­ things and they are boyant enough to come and fight us­ let see what will happen on saturday no bi so next­ 2morrow. Even that person that is undirecting Nigeria­ by call himself erratic how will I blame him he never­ knew that without African no football even when you­ asked him the meaning of that word he will tell you­ that he his coming,those empty drums talk while­ Africans are talking, look they have not brush their­ teeth 4 2 weeks cann't you see his teeth very­ colourful and dirty. Let me hear hear that next time­ I'll tell him that I've Green Card to his­ country free of charge. KUDOS,CONGRATS,UNU A WA GO, YOU­ GUYS HAVE TRIED. All I know is that this cup or Gold is­ coming to Nigeria/Africa. So DREAM TEAM GO FOR THAT­ GOLD MEDAL I LUV YOU GUYS.

    From ebyebyilechie, on Wed 20 Aug 3:27PM
  10. This Naija na big country 4 butufollu. Big congrat to­ us the Nigerians, it was a good game and a good outing.­ I know we gonna win the Agentines cus I know that our­ God will never let us down he is always with us. I also­ want to say big thank you to our Siasia he has show us­ that he knows what he is doing. I million Gun shots for­ the Naija Guys eh my friend I no say na you o but out­ 1wondafu footballers in china.

    From ebyebyilechie, on Wed 20 Aug 3:09PM
  11. Whoever wrote that comment on eurosport is a COW.Just­ because Nigerians have excelled someone is­ upset.Anyway, thank God that Nigeria had gotten to the­ final and not the so-called Brits. How many times have­ they won anything in age group tournament? Please­ someone should help tell the Eurosport staff that their­ comments/observations are not needed, not now or ever.­ Go DREAM TEAM IV and show them the stuff y/all are made­ of. God bless Nigeria.
    Nonny.

    From nonye_anyaojo, on Wed 20 Aug 3:08PM
  12. My fear against Nigeria when they file out with­ Argentina on Saturday is referee. In the year 2005 when­ Nigeria met Argentina in the final match, Nigeria was­ robbed my the referee. This time around, our boys would­ be watchful of Lionel Messi who would like to fall­ unnessary in the eighteen yard box in order to get­ penalty. God of soccer shall be with us, we shall not­ experience shame again in the hands of Argentina in the­ Mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray (Amen). It's my­ earnest prayers that Nigeria will repeat the glory of­ Atlanta 1996 come Saturday in Beijjing.

    From John, on Wed 20 Aug 3:04PM
  13. My fear against Nigeria when they file out with­ Argentina on Saturday is referee. In the year 2005 when­ Nigeria met Argentina in the final match, Nigeria was­ robbed my the referee. This time around, our boys would­ be watchful of Lionel Messi who would like to fall­ unnessary in the eighteen yard box in order to get­ penalty. God of soccer shall be with us, we shall not­ experience shame again in the hands of Argentina in the­ Mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray (Amen). It's my­ earnest prayers that Nigeria will repeat the glory of­ Atlanta 1996 come Saturday in Beijjing.

    From John, on Wed 20 Aug 3:00PM
  14. We hope to carry the Gold this time again, after­ waiting and being patience for others for the past 8­ years. we all will have a good time to cellebrate.­ Awain

    From Awain, on Wed 20 Aug 12:29PM
  15. Good job guys!!!May God crown all ur effort with­ glory.........(1 love)

    From precious, on Wed 20 Aug 12:01PM
  16. If Argentina think they have this won then they will be­ mistaken because they are gonna have to earn it against­ this young Nigerian side.
    I've watched Nigeria in a­ few games and they look very good i must say. I hope­ they win it as they've played very good football.­ They pass well, their movement is very good and they­ have players that look very comfortable on the ball it­ must be said. I particularly like no. 14, while no. 7­ is just a classy player with a bag of tricks. Argentina­ are gonna have to pay close attention to him,­ that's for sure.

    From Jay, on Wed 20 Aug 11:56AM
  17. why is the brits always negative on Nigerians if i may­ ask?? You've got it all as you think. why cant you­ let Nigeria be??? The fact is that we(Nigerian) are far­ better than the whole brits in football. CHALLENGE­ that!!

    From Dessy, on Wed 20 Aug 10:44AM
  18. I believed God's help with the determination,­ dedication and discipline of the boy as paid off.
    i­ believe if Siasia is the coach of Hull City in the­ premiership they can win the league. God help and­ favour be with you siasia. Nigeria we come out­ victorious on saturday final, w'll win the­ Gold.
    Cheers
    Abolaji

    From showhappiness, on Wed 20 Aug 10:22AM
  19. You eropeans shame to you all. Make una see me so na­ una own we Africans go dey suffer make suffer kill all­ of una there una papa and mama. The comments wey una­ make yesterday eh, if una try am again I tell una say­ Me Like this I get Green Card to una country why una go­ dey use that word to the african "erratic"­ anyway the white men does not go to school cus dem­ think say dem no everything wey them they speak for­ mouth but dem no no say dem no no anything. Thank God­ Nigerians don put shame for una eyes yersterday

    From Blesing, on Wed 20 Aug 9:48AM
  20. You eropeans shame to you all. Make una see me so na­ una own we Africans go dey suffer make suffer kill all­ of una there una papa and mama. The comments wey una­ make yesterday eh, if una try am again I tell una say­ Me Like this I get Green Card to una country why una go­ dey use that word to the african "erratic"­ anyway the white men does not go to school cus dem­ think say dem no everything wey them they speak for­ mouth but dem no no say dem no no anything. Thank God­ Nigerians don put shame for una eyes yersterday

    From Blesing, on Wed 20 Aug 9:48AM
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