By Adeyinka Akintunde, Lagos on December 5, 2015

If Nigeria gets a draw (of any kind) against Algeria at the on-going 2015 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday, it would have qualified for the semi-finals of the competition, and would be a step closer to booking a place in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games’ male football event. The only concern here would be how the Samson Siasia boys would finish in the group, either as leaders or as runners-up.

Nigeria had earlier beaten Mali 3-2 and was held to a 2-2 draw by Egypt, after leading by two goals. But Nigeria would need to beat Algeria to qualify as the group winners. The other option of finishing on top of the table can only be realised if the Dream Team VI plays a score-draw, hoping that Egypt manages not more than a single goal win over group’s whipping boys, Mali.

Topping the group would be of great advantage to the Nigerian side because, if it finished second in the group, it will meet Senegal, the host and the gold medalist of the last All-African Games, held in September. Senegal is one team Nigeria would not pray to meet, if they want to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. This is because of the casual dismissal, by the Nigerian side, of their opponents - Mali and Egypt – during the second-half matches against Mali and Egypt.

With Mali already out of the competition - after losing their first two matches - any two of Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt will make it to the semi-finals. If Nigeria plays a draw with Algeria and Egypt beats Mali, then the three teams would end up with five points each.

Therefore, to get the two teams that would qualify, according to the CAF rules, a mini-league of the three teams having the same points is created. In that context certain criteria would be considered. These are: the greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams, the best goal difference in the matches between the teams and the greatest number of goals scored in the matches between the teams.

With this, one of the three teams will be dropped. To break the tie between the two qualifying teams and determine the group winner, goal difference in all group matches and the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches will be considered. If the deadlock remains, there will then be the drawing of lots conducted by the organising committee.

For Nigeria to escape all these permutations and avoid meeting Senegal in the semi-finals, the team must beat Algeria, as it did in the 2011 edition in Morocco, when the Desert Foxes fell 4-1 to Nigeria. Such a result will enable the Dream Team qualify as group winners, and boost its chances of qualifying for the Rio Olympic Games.

•Photo shows under-pressure coach Samson Siasia.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 5, 2015

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