Bala Nikyu, the Flamingos Head Coach, said on Friday that Nigerians were impressed by the outcome of the Dream Team IV performance at Rio Olympic football game and were optimistic they would do the country proud.

Nikyu told newsmen in Abuja in reaction to the U-23 first winning match of 5-4 goals gainst their Japanese counterparts at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The national coach added that in every competition, the first match was as important as the last match for any team.

“As you are all aware the first match is very important as the final match of every competition because by the time you win you discover that. “Any team you are playing with in the first match are also struggling seriously to win that match, because after the first match you now have time to relax.

“And start taking other matches as they come, but if you lose the first match you will be pushed to a tight angle where by you will be threatened wether you will make it or not! “And 5-4 win is not the issue here, is making the first win and I appreciate the team for their effort and win and I consider it a good result,’’ he said.

He also explained further on the team’s performance considering their position and challenges in getting to Rio. “I do not want to say that their defence was lose; I want to still agree that everybody was panicking as the result of the first match and I want to tell you that. “Any time you are in hurry you are bound to fail, so I do want to say that their defence was not loose but I believe that after their first match and the first winning, they would be stabilised.

“But I am very optimistic on their second match against Sweden and I know they will do well. ‘’ he had encouraged. The National under-23 team will lock horns with Sweden on Sunday.