Nigeria’s Under-23 coach, Samson Siasia, has said on Friday that he will not underrate any opponents in the group stage at the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic Men’s Soccer event.
In the draws made on Thursday, the African U-23 champions are drawn in Group B with Sweden, the European U-21 champions; Japan, the Asian champions; and Colombia, runners up to Argentina in the South American tournament.
“The group will be difficult but it is fair enough for us to qualify from if we prepare very well for the competition.
“I am confident we will qualify from the group; all the teams are tough there are no more easy teams to beat.
“ It’s all about good preparation; we will rate all teams equally with respect and map out our programmes and strategy.
“I am sure of qualification from the group with hard work from us,” Siasia said after attending the draws in Rio de Janeiro.
Nigeria will open its campaign against Japan on Aug. 4 at the 41,000-seater Arena da Amazonia in Manaus.
Sweden and Colombia will play the group’s first game.
Men’s teams are restricted to under-23 players, born on or after Jan. 1, 1993 with a maximum of three overage players allowed, while there are no age restrictions on women’s teams.