The Nigerian Olympic team has qualified for the final round of the Africa U-23 AFCON qualifiers.
Nigeria U-23 qualified for the next round after defeating their Tanzanian counterparts 2-0 on Saturday at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.
The result means Salisu Yusuf’s team progressed to a 3-1 aggregate victory over the East Africans.
After a sterile draw in the first half, the Olympic Eagles cruised to victory with two quick goals in the second half.
Abiodun Ogunniyi scored a free kick in the 62nd minute before Tanzanian goalkeeper Aboutwaleeb Mshery scored an own goal after Success Makanjuola hit him in the back in the 80th minute.
Although the first 10 minutes saw a slow start from both teams, the Nigerian U-23s were the first to have an attempt on goal in the 11th minute.
However, Makanjuola’s cross was well stopped by the Tanzanian goalkeeper, Aboutwaleeb Mshery.
The Tanzanians subsequently countered the Dream Team with Mundhai Vuia, but the effort was unsuccessful due to Nathaniel Nwosu’s save.
Tanzania
In the 15th minute, another Nigerian side shot from Dominic Ohaka went wide.
Aboutwaleeb then denied Qudus Akanni’s free kick in the 19th minute.
The search for an equalizer continued for the Dream Team, whose attempt from the left flank by Ogunniyi Omojesu went wide a minute later.
After half an hour, both sides were still in the bay with several missed opportunities.
Two minutes before the break, Aboutwaleeb grabbed a long ball thrown into the box to deny Nigeria a goal.
The Dream Team picked up where they started with a chance early in the second half.
Dominic Ohaka’s long-range shot went wide in the 49th minute before a Tanzanian defender cleared the ball away from Omojesu.
The intensity continued to build as fans began to complain about the Dream Team’s missed opportunities.
First, Sunusi Ibrahim missed a header off a Success cross before Ibrahim Yayaha missed a coveted chance after dribbling past two Tanzanian defenders.
The equalizer quest was answered two minutes after the hour by Ogunniyi Abiodun known as Omojesu with a well-placed free kick.
Eight minutes later, Ogunniyi intervened on Nigeria’s second goal after the Mercularian midfielder fouled in the box to create a penalty.
Success’s spot kick hit the woodwork before the ball hit Aboutwaleeb and then went into the net to score Nigeria’s brace.
Nigeria hopes to stage a return to the Olympics after missing the Tokyo Olympics.