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Nigeria's soccer team to play Sweden, Colombia, Japan at Rio Olympics

Xinhua, April 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Nigeria's under-23 team, Dream Team, has been drawn in Group B of the men' s football tournament of 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

According to the draws made on Thursday in Rio, the 1996 champions and 2008 runners-up will face Sweden, Colombia and Japan in the opening round of the competition.

The Rio Olympics will hold from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21.

The male football event, which Nigeria will be participating in as African champions, will hold from Aug. 4 to Aug. 20.

The female football event, which the Super Falcons failed to qualify for, will hold from Aug. 3 to Aug. 19.

With the draw now, the Nigerian side will open their campaign by taking on Japan at Manaus on Aug. 4, before facing Sweden on Aug. 7 at the same venue.

The Dream Team, 2-0 winners over Japan in a group phase match in 1996, will then take on Colombia in their final opening group game on Aug. 10 in Sao Paulo.

The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The draw is also having in Group A hosts Brazil, Iraq, Denmark and South Africa, while Group C has Fiji Islands, South Korea, Germany and defending champions Mexico.

Group D has Honduras, Argentina, Portugal and Algeria. Endit