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Nigeria Wednesday night failed to reach the Rio Olympics Gold medal final after they were outclassed 2-0 by Germany in Sao Paulo.

Germany will now face hosts Brazil in the Gold medal game on Saturday in Rio, while Nigeria take on Honduras with the bronze medal at stake.

Germany created the better chances, while African champions Nigeria hardly troubled the opposing defence, who adopted the offside tactic to curtail their offensive threat.

The Germans deserved their lead after nine minutes through big defender Lukas Klostermann, who steered home a low cross from the right.

But they left it late to double their advantage a minute to full time through substitute Petersen, when he turned in a pass from an acute angle.

Nigeria were gifted a big chance by the German goalkeeper Timo Horn to equalize three minutes after the opponents went in front when his poor clearance fell to Sadiq Umar inside the box, but he somehow blocked the effort.

In the 20th minute, Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel made a point-blank save off Lars Bender to keep his team in the game.

And on half of the hour, Sadiq Umar and then Mikel could not capitalize on another slip by the German defence.

But Germany created the better chances in the first half – skipper Meyer saw his shot from outside the box miss target not by much and two minutes later, Davie Selke’s shot from top of the box was firmly held by the Nigeria goalie.

In the 42nd minute, Selke failed to get a good touch to another low cross from the right with Troost-Ekong breathing down his neck, before Serge Gnabry failed to make the most of another good chance minutes later.

In first half stoppage time, Sadiq Umar put Aminu through on goal, only for a German tackle right inside the box put the ball out for a corner.

After the interval, Germany continued to ask the questions.

Gnabry was lively in the Germany attack, while Troost-Ekong worked tirelessly hard in the heart of the Nigeria defence.

Germany curtailed the attacking threat of the Africans, who failed to step up their game for all 90 minutes.

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com

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