Olympian and former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has sounded confident for the U-23 team ahead of their campaign in the football event of the Rio Olympics.
While he admitted that the team was indeed in a tough group, he said that the typical Nigerian spirit would see the team through.
West, who spoke on Monday, also likened the current ordeal of the team to what they passed through in Atlanta 20 years ago.
“We are actually in the group of death but I believe that the Nigerian spirit will make a way for them
“I don’t see them having any complex when it comes to this level because we can shock anybody and cause surprises any day. We might be struggling in those friendlies we have played so far, but if you remember 20 years ago (Atlanta ’96), our team also struggled when we were playing friendlies until we left the shores of this country and spent time in a quiet environment and worked our strategies together.
“One thing that is going for Siasia is that he gets the grace at youth level. He has that edge over his contemporaries so with him, this team will go far in this Rio Olympics,” West said.
Nigeria are in Group B alongside Japan, Colombia and Sweden. The team will open their account on Thursday, August 4 against Japan, while Sweden will play Colombia on the same day.
credit: independentnig