NIGERIA DEFEATS SENEGAL TO BOOK OLYMPICS SPOT ...

Nigeria have qualified for next Rio Olympics after they pipped hosts Senegal in Wednesday’s U23 AFCON semi-final in Dakar courtesy of a 77^th minute penalty by skipper Oghenekaro Etebo.

They will now await the winners of the second semi-final between South Africa and Algeria for Saturday’s championship game.

A mix-up between goalkeeper Seydou and Thioune in the Senegal defence let in Kufre Ebong, but before he could shoot into an empty goal Thioune held on to the ball to be sent off for a professional foul.

Nigeria’s main hero was goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, who saved a penalty in first half stoppage time for Dream Team VI to hold hosts Senegal 0-0 after the first period.

>