Chukwu Backs Siasia To Win Gold Medal

A member of the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation and former coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu has called for intensive preparation for the Nigeria U-23 Olympic team in order to ensure a gold-medal-winning outing at the Rio Olympics.

"It is achievable," Chukwu said, while reacting to the draw for the Olympic soccer event organised by FIFA yesterday, which pitched Nigeria in Group B, alongside Sweden, Colombia and Japan.

"It's not a bad draw. Before you become a champion, you must beat everybody along the way to the top. We have won gold before and with good preparations, we can win it again."

Looking at Nigeria's group opponents who are from three different continents, the former Nigeria international said, "they are all good. Any team that qualifies to compete at the Olympics is a potential gold medallist. That is why we must not underrate any team and preparation is key to our campaign."

He expressed confidence in the technical prowess of coach Samson Siasia who in 2008 took the Dream Team to a silver medal finish. "He has been there before, he knows the terrain and very matured now. If he follows his programme to the letter there is every chance that he would succeed with the team."