Nigeria Vs Liberia - 2nd Leg of All African Games Qualifier Preview

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The Nigerian Olympic team which popularly named the Dream team V will be in action subsequent weekend against the Liberian U-23 National football team in the 2nd leg of the All African Games Qualifier. The game comes up at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City Nigeria.

The 1st leg of the encounter which was played at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Complex on Saturday 16th April 2011 saw each sides settling for a 1-1 with Nigeria opening scoring in the 33rd minute of the encounter via the penalty spot, right after Leicester City forward Daniel Uchechi was fouled in the penalty area. He summoned enough mental strength to convert the opening aim to the delight of the few traveling supporters.

The Nigerians who had been missing some of their major stars had before the encounter protested the ill therapy meted out to them by the Liberian Football Federation prior to the game. The opening objective by the Nigerian Olympic team spurred a spontaneous reaction from their Liberian counterpart desperate to impress their dwelling fans who had come to cheer them to victory. The pitch was yet not helping their course, as it was not in the most beneficial of conditions.

Their persistence on the other hand paid off in the 63rd minutes when attacking midfielder Johnson Samuel scored the necessary equalizer by way of a stunning header in the 63rd minutes of play. The host would have snatched all three points in the dying minutes of the second half following they had been awarded a penalty kick. Hero of the U-17 team that won gold at South Korea in 2007 Oladele Ajiboye pulled off a decisive safe to deny what would have been the winning goal.

He was still replaced by couple of minutes to the end of the game when he got injured by a Liberian player Ronaldinho. The referee whistle brought reprise to Coach Austin Eguaveon who was significantly tensed throughout the encounter. The reverse fixture promises to be a cracker considering the significance of the encounter to the Dream team V aspiration. The U-23 team will have the benefit of playing at dwelling prior to the ever vociferous Nigeria supporters club.

One factor that would go in favor of the Dream team is the significant talent obtainable to the technical team. Rabiu Ibrahim, Nnamdi Odumadi, Ekigho Ehiosun, Ibok Edet and Goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye would likely commence the game that promises to be thrilling and entertaining. The Governor of Edo State Comrade Adams Oshiomole is expected to be the unique guest of honor for the duration of the game.