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Senegal 3-1 Nigeria: Lions Dominate Eagles In Olympic Qualifiers Head-To-Head


Nigeria U-23s will square off against hosts Senegal in the semi-final of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations for a place at next year's RIO 2016 Olympic Games.

While Senegal have been the best team of the tournament so far, winning all their group games, the U-23 Eagles have been lacklustre.
Ahead of Wednesday's clash, Completesportsnigeria.com's JAMES AGBEREBI takes a look at FIVE past Olympic Games qualifiers between both countries. 

– MUNICH 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, 1ST ROUND, 1ST LEG (NIGERIA 1-2 SENEGAL)
Nigeria first ever meeting with Senegal in the qualifiers for the football event of the Olympics was for the Munich 1972 Games.
Both teams met in the first round of the qualifiers, with Nigeria hosting the first leg. Unfortunately, Senegal took a 2-1 lead back to Dakar.
– MUNICH 1972 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, 1ST ROUND, 2ND LEG (SENEGAL 1-1 NIGERIA)
Needing a 2-0 win to advance into the group stage, Nigeria could only manage a 1-1 draw against Senegal in the return leg, thereby crashing out.
Senegal went on to the group stage and were grouped alongside Togo, Ghana and Cameroon. But it was Ghana who picked the group's sole ticket for the football event of the Munich 1972 Olympic Games.
– ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, 2ND ROUND, GROUP A, 1ST LEG (SENEGAL 4-3 NIGERIA)
After eliminating Namibia 3-1 on aggregate, in the first round of the 2004 Olympics football qualifiers, Nigeria were drawn in Group A with Tunisia, Egypt and Senegal in the second round of the qualifiers.
Nigeria had four points from their first two group games against Egypt and Tunisia, and went away to face Senegal in their third group game. Senegal subjected Nigeria to their first defeat in the group by winning 4-3.
– ATHENS 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, 2ND ROUND, GROUP A, 2ND LEG (NIGERIA 2-0 SENEGAL)
In the return leg, Nigeria hosted Senegal and defeated them 2-0 to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2004 Olympic Games.
Nigeria went on to beat  Egypt in their fifth group game. But they failed to secure the ticket following their 2-0 away loss to Tunisia in their last group game. Tunisia qualified and represented Africa in Athens.
-LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES FOOTBALL QUALIFIER, GROUP A, U-23 AFCON (SENEGAL 2-1 NIGERIA)
Nigeria and Senegal were in Group A with host Morocco and Algeria, in the maiden edition of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, in 2011.
Taking on Morocco in the tournament's opener, Nigeria lost 1-0 to a Abdelaziz Barrada 28th minute penalty. In their next group game, Nigeria faced Senegal who also lost their opening game 1-0 to Algeria.
Two first half goals from Kara Mbodj and Abdoulaye Sane, in the 34th and 42nd minutes respectively, gave Senegal a 2-0 lead. Daniel Uchechi pulled a goal back for Nigeria but Senegal held on to win 2-1.
Nigeria crashed out, while Senegal finished fourth in Morocco, which qualified them for a play-off tie against Oman. Senegal beat Oman in the play-off and joined Gabon, Morocco and Egypt as Africa's representatives at the London 2012 Olympic Games.