U-23 Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia has given $100 to each of his players for qualifying for the semi-final of the U-23 AFCON and thereafter vowed they will beat hosts Senegal on Wednesday to reach the championship final.
Siasia redeemed a pledge to pay his players cash for reaching the last four of the U-23 championship, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics, after they held Algeria to a scoreless draw on Saturday in Dakar.
He then fixed his sights on reaching the U-23 AFCON final at the expense of home team Senegal by 4pm (Nigerian time) on Wednesday.
He said he hopes to inspire his team to progress to the final after he scored against Senegal in the 1992 AFCON in Dakar.
“At the Africa Cup of Nations in 1992, I scored here (Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium), and this is why most Nigerians remember me, I will be around my players to repeat it on Wednesday,” he said.
He said he was satisfied his team kept a clean sheet after capitulating in the second half of their two previous group games.
“I congratulate my team for not conceding and qualifying for the semi-finals,” he said.
“The most important thing was to qualify and we have achieved it. We wish we could garner the three points but I’m happy with qualifying and getting closer to Rio de Janeiro.”