Nigeria coach Samson Siasia gave $100 to each of his play¬ers for qualifying for the semi-final of the U23 AFCON and thereafter vowed they will play to beat hosts Senegal on Wednesday to reach the championship final.
Siasia redeemed a pledge to pay his players cash for reaching the last four of the U23 championship, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2016 Rio Olympics, after they held Algeria to a scoreless draw on Saturday in Dakar.
He then fixed his sight on reaching the U23 AFCON final at the expense of home team Senegal by 4pm Nigerian time on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Siasia says he expects difficult semi final math with Senegal on Wednesday.
The hosts have been in sterling form thus far winning all three of their games in the group stages of the competition.
Nigeria’s Dream Team will howev¬er not be fazed by the frenzied atmo¬sphere expected at the Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar.
“I did not plan for us to meet Sen¬egal in the semi finals. It just hap¬pened.
“We would have loved to play in the final with Senegal because the atmo¬sphere would have been wonderful.
“That scenario would have meant we are through to the Olympics in Brazil but as it is, we have to play against Senegal in the semi finals.
“We are not going to run away. They (Senegal) are a very good side and they are playing in front of their crowd.
“It is going to be a very difficult match but the Senegalese fans will not play on the day.
“It will be down to the 11 players on the pitch on the day.
“So I just want to enjoy this moment (that we have qualified for the semifinals) and make corrections for the next game,” Siasia said.
