Olympic Games: Nigeria Search for first win

Title favourite Nigeria U23 national team tagged Dream Team-4 will face Japan in a Group-B match at the Olympic men's soccer tournament on Sunday.

"In the next games we can focus on getting a little bit more going in attack and scoring a few goals," Nigeria Chief tactician, Samson Siasia, whose team held European Under-23 champion Netherlands to a barren draw in the group opener.

"We came into the game with the hopes of winning," said Chievo Verona of Italy striker Obinna Nsofor, who missed several scoring opportunities in the encounter.

"We will take heart in what we did right and try to use it to produce goals in our next game," he said.

Forward Osaze Odemwingie, who plays for Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow, had excellent display in the opening match.

He is the only over-aged player in the Nigerian squad as the other two, Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and forward Ike Uche were not released by their clubs.

Coach Siasia is confident on the team's prospect at the Olympics. "I think we have a squad capable of showing the world they are good enough for the gold medal.

The entire nation is banking on this set of players," he said.

On the Japan side, they are facing a do-or-die situation. Losing to the United States 1-0 in their opener, they need three points in this game to survive the group stage.

The Japanese would display how their soccer could compete with their stronger and speedy African counterparts.

"We were inferior in physical strength," said head coach Yasuharu Sorimachi.

"But we have a plan for the next game. We need to be more active. I believe we can succeed."

The Asian side, having come to the Olympics with all under-23 players, used its traditional style based on passing and possession.

Keisuke Honda, with the Dutch club VVV-Venlo, was outstanding in the first match and has the potential to be one of the best midfielders at the Olympics.

"I hope we'll score from moves that flow right through the team. I don't just want to pass the ball, I want to set up goals," said Honda.