Algeria celebrate reaching the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after beating South Africa 2-0 (Photo: CAF official website)
Algeria will be looking to accomplish their "second objective" by beating Nigeria in Saturday’s U-23 Africa Cup of Nations final in Dakar, after managing to break a 35-year-old jinx to qualify for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
A 2-0 win over South Africa in the semis, courtesy of goals from Oussama Darfalou and Mohamed Benkhemassa either side of the interval, meant that Algeria have finally overcome an Olympic drought dating back to 1980.
They will not have an easy mission in the final, however, as they will be facing a Nigerian side they failed to overcome in their Group B final which ended in a goalless stalemate.
“This final is our second objective; if we win it will be the icing on the cake,” Algeria defender Ayoub Abdelaoui told Le Buteur.
“We have reached our first objective, we are in the final and will go to Rio.”
Fellow African Olympic representatives Nigeria had to overcome hosts Senegal in the semis to set up the Algeria meeting, with a second-half penalty from Midfielder Etebo Oghenekaro ensuring their passage.
The Desert Foxes will be relieved with the news that Nigeria’s flying left winger Stanley Dimgba will not be fit in time to play in the final, after picking up an injury in the second group game against Egypt.
But Nigeria will welcome back skipper Azubuike Okechukwu and striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who sustained an ankle injury in the group game against Algeria.
Holding midfielder Okechukwu, who served a one-match suspension against Senegal, is set to reclaim his place in the middle, while it remains to be seen whether Awoniyi will be given the nod ahead of striker Kufre Ebong, who started the last two games.
Senegal and South Africa will be vying for the remaining ticket to Rio de Janeiro when they meet in the third-place playoff earlier in the day.
The 2015 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations is only the second edition of the tournament, with Gabon the reigning champions of the inaugural competition in 2011.
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