No
team had a harder time getting to Rio de Janeiro than the Nigerian
men’s soccer team, and when the players finally arrived they had just
hours to prepare for a match against Japan. What was their reward for
a tumultuous trip? The wrong national anthem.
When
it came time before the game to honor each country with the playing of
the national anthem, Nigeria heard a tune that was definitely not right.
The
Nigerians were evidently unfazed by the error, holding off Japan for a
5-4 victory. But their disappointment was apparent when the music began
playing.
It didn’t go unnoticed by Nigerian fans watching the match, either.
Plenty tweeted about the gaffe, including some sports writers from the
country
Nigeria
arrived in Brazil with less than seven hours until the beginning of its
opening game against Japan, but shook off the jet lag to pour on enough
offense to grab three crucial points in the group standings.
A
draw between Sweden and Colombia on Thursday means Nigeria will enter
its second match in first place in Group B. If Nigeria — finally able to
get some rest and proper preparation — is able to beat Sweden on
Sunday, it will clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.
That
will also give stadium officials a few days to find a recording of
Nigeria’s national anthem so the team can be properly introduced for its
next Olympics match.
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