THEY LANDED IN Manaus at around 2pm local time after an eight-hour flight from Atlanta, where they had been stranded for days after a ‘logistical mix-up’.
The Nigerian football team then played their Olympic opener against Japan six hours later.
Incredibly, they won.
While the farcical preparations were far from ideal and the entire chaotic week was an unmerciful PR disaster, it didn’t seem to bother the players too much.
Not least 20-year-old striker Etebo Oghenekaro who scored four times in the remarkable 5-4 victory.
Sadiq Umar gave the Nigerians the lead after just six minutes but in an absorbing opening, it was 2-2 after 12 minutes.
Oghenekaro scored just before and just after the break to put them 4-2 in front and then grabbed a fourth midway through the half.
But, the Japanese staged a spirited revival and grabbed another two goals to leave Nigeria anxiously awaiting the full-time whistle.
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